Post 10 - Action Towards Goals: Part 2

It’s October! As much as I like January for the start of a new year, there’s also something equally thrilling to me about the transition from a hot summer into the cool, crisp fall. I love the colors, smells, and sounds of fall. The orange, gold, and brown leaves, scents of pumpkin spice drifting from eateries and coffee shops, and the sounds of the season’s first rains and winds brushing across car and home windows. Of course, with climate change, this picture is a little less accurate, but I think you know what I mean.  It’s also an opening to the holiday season… Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas… so much to look forward to with family and friends as we close out another year.

Apparently, the October theory for setting goals is one that has emerged in recent years from social media. It involves capitalizing on the change in season as a time to reflect, review, and either fine-tune old goals or get a head start on establishing new ones. It’s a time of natural reflection as we head towards the end of the year and have more time to think about what worked or didn’t work. Some people hurry to finish goals set earlier in the year, while others work to define smaller, achievable tasks to help them enter January with a more thorough plan of action.  

As I mentioned previously, I love the idea of a head start. For me, I’d like to look at what worked in 2025 and what didn’t and use that as a jumping-off place to determine how I should focus my energy in 2026. I have been very consistent this year with taking steps toward my goals. I’ve stopped focusing so much on the end game, and I’ve really committed to the journey. This means that I have learned to relish the moment more and the small steps that are necessary to accomplish bigger goals. I appreciate that small steps day after day, week after week, month after month lead to the completion of goals. We must be patient, consistent, and committed to the whole journey, not just the first part of the ride.

Most importantly, we shouldn't wait until we've reached our goals to find peace and happiness. Joy is too valuable to delay, so embrace it from the very start of your journey. If you're aiming to lose weight, consider forming a support group with loved ones, try cooking new healthy recipes that excite you, celebrate movement by dancing if that's your passion, or enjoy a solo dance party. Engage in activities that bring you laughter, peace, and joy every day, and don't treat joy as a final destination. If your goal is to look, feel, or be different, adopt a new mindset right now, rather than waiting for a specific weight or the completion of your checklist.

As you reflect on, refresh, or start new goals this October, remind yourself that you are worthy and that you are enough, right here, right now, today. Everything else—the dreams, the goals, the little steps, the big steps—are all just icing on the cake to a life well lived. The secret to a successful, happy life isn’t achieving every single goal to perfection but how you feel while you’re taking actions towards your goals. The happier you are at the beginning of your journey, the further that energy will propel you into achieving the greatness you desire. Time won’t matter because you’re having so much fun along the way. Happy October, my friends!

Wishing you love, light, and a life filled with authenticit-E.

Estella