Let me start this off with a quick analogy:For many of us, the Maps app has been the single greatest guide of our commuting lives. It is especially useful in a new city, or when we find ourselves in a strange part of town fighting traffic to get to an important meeting with precious few minutes to spare. The Maps app provides direction -- a blueprint of the environment we find ourselves in -- to help us get to our destination while saving us time, energy and fuel.Blueprints crop up in other aspects of our lives, too.When that huge bonus comes in and we can finally put a down-payment on a new house, the first port of call is never a construction company for the bricks, or an interior designer for the décor, or a landscape artist for the lawn.We go to an architect first to get a house plan -- a blueprint. We don’t make a single housing-related purchase until we have a concrete blueprint to work with, just as we would never drive around aimlessly -- wasting time and fuel -- until we had the exact directions from our Maps app.So why do we live our lives without a grand plan?If I asked you what you’d be doing an hour from now, you probably have a rough idea. You likely also know what you’ll be doing a week from now (that doctor’s appointment), a month from now (that new project at work), and maybe even a year from now (a new job!).But what will you be doing five years from now? What about ten? What will you be doing in your 60s after you’ve likely retired?In short:What is your life’s grand plan, and what values are important to you?I ask this because so many of us want to achieve different things but don’t have a concrete plan on how to get there.HealthWe know, for example, that we want to be in better health; but we hardly make (and stick to) proper meal plans, exercise regimes, or set attainable weight goals.WealthWe want more money and less debt, but many of us don’t have a proper financial plan, monthly budget or even a financial advisor to help us chart a path to wealth (and out of debt).RelationshipsWe want to be better friends and relatives to the people close to us, but we don’t know where to start. Should we go out more and meet new people? Should we put more effort into attending those family gatherings we sometimes try to avoid? Or should we set boundaries, shrink our social circles and focus on the few people we’ve already got?Not having a plan for your life — a blueprint — is a sure-fire way to get nowhere fast.or your life — a blueprint — is a sure-fire way to get nowhere fast.Just as you would be wasting fuel driving around a big city with no direction or destination, going about your life without a grand plan can cost you precious time, money and energy.Without a proper diet plan, for instance, your mood, weight and health all suffer -- which eventually leads to higher medical bills.Without a financial plan, reckless spending will see you struggling to survive on rainy days with no emergency funds saved up.Without a blueprint for expanding and growing the relationships in your life, your social circle suffers and your professional life could be held back.It is time for change.Clearly, living without a blueprint is a tax on long-term happiness. Fortunately for you, there is a solution -- and that solution begins with you choosing to live your life purposely and with urgency.It begins with you setting goals that motivate you -- big, hairy, audacious goals that speak to your life’s true purpose.You’ve probably heard of S.M.A.R.T goals -- goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. These are exactly the type of goals you should be setting. But you’ve probably never heard of the slightly improved version: the S.M.E.R.T.I.E goal:Specific: readily understood by anyone who reads itMeasurable: able to measure the extent to which you complete the goalEvidential: tangible evidence proving you have completed the goalResponsible: the extent to which you accept responsibility for the consequencesTime-based: the specific time frame for completionInspirational: aligned with your values and beliefsEmotional: the potential for emotional gain to help strengthen your convictionBut here’s a hint:The ‘T’ in S.M.E.R.T.I.E is the key to achieving it all.You see, instead of not having any goals, we sometimes set too many goals -- especially during a certain ritual called New Year’s Eve.You’ve probably already set goals related to your health, wealth and/or relationships for the new year. But without a sense of urgency, those goals will inevitably fall by the wayside as life takes over and you fall back into familiar routines.So how can you incorporate urgency into your life goals? Let’s look at some examples:Health:Instead of simply aiming to lose 5kg this year, aim to “lose 5kg over the next 3 months by cutting down on excess carbs and going for a run 3 times a week.”See how much more specific that deadline is?Finances:Rather than simply aiming to get out of debt this year, aim to “eliminate NAD 7,000 worth of debt over the next 4 months by cutting down on fast food and paying off your outstanding accounts.”Now that’s a truly S.M.A.R.T goal.Career:Instead of simply aiming to “earn more money” (who doesn’t?), aim to “make 10 more sales calls each week in order to beat your quarterly quota and apply for that raise and promotion -- by September.”How’s that for targeted?The Magic FormulaBy now, you’ve probably spotted the magic formula for goal-setting:Aim for [goal]by completing [action 1, action 2,... ]before [deadline]in order to [benefit]And there you have it. The secret formula to success.By setting such big, hairy, audacious goals with very specific deadlines, you are creating a blueprint for your life that holds you fully accountable for your own success.But there’s one more crucial step to help you get there:Write down your goals.That’s right; write them down in your diary, stick them on the wall or paste them on the fridge. By writing down your goals, you make them REAL and VISIBLE.You see, as humans, our motivation tends to wax and wane over time. You wouldn’t expect to shower only on Monday and remain clean throughout the week. You need to shower every day to maintain the same level of hygiene.Similarly, having a burst of motivation and focus at the beginning of the year feels great, but it needs to be a daily affair.By writing down your goals and values, you provide yourself a daily reminder of what you need to accomplish. Your blueprint remains visible at all times.Having a blueprint brings about much needed clarity -- on what you want to achieve, how you are going to get it, and how long it will take you to get there.And with clarity in your eyes, tenacity in your stride and determination in your heart, you can achieve even your wildest dreams.But here’s the thing:It definitely won’t be easy. In fact, if you’ve been finding it hard to achieve your goals lately, you are not alone.Over the past 25 years, I have talked to many, many individuals just like you -- intelligent people with big dreams and gigantic goals who struggle to find the time or the practical means to implement their life’s blueprint.And in that time, here’s what I have learned:Having a strong support system in your corner -- someone who is both your coach and your cheerleader -- can do wonders for morale and motivation.Over the decades, I’ve come to specialize in helping people to:craft their life’s blueprintset S.M.E.R.T.I.E goals; and achieve them in record time.If you are looking for that special cocktail of practical planning, deep dedication and fiery motivation:I have just the solution for you.My coaching schedule has just two more slots open this year -- and by booking a session with me, we can work together on crafting your unique blueprint and bringing back direction into your life.Visit my website to find out more about my coaching services -- or DM me here on LinkedIn for more information.Now is your chance to make a big, impactful change in your life.And I can’t wait to join you on your journey.Talk soon,Annastasia 

The emotional rollercoasterLife is a cocktail of emotions.These emotions, however, aren’t all bad. Human beings evolved emotions to help them make sense of the environment and events occurring around them. Many emotions, such as happiness, contentment, and joy, are pleasurable. Others seem negative but can be useful; such as fear helping you avoid dangerous situations or anger denoting a crossed boundary.Emotions, therefore, aren't necessarily "good" or bad"; they simply are. In the right context, they can help us power through life in a positive way and teach us things about ourselves and the world around us. In the wrong context, they can be self-limiting, harmful, or damaging to our relationships.At work, at home, and in social settings, many things happen to us that are outside our control. However, how we react to these events determines our moods, physical health, professional success, and ability to make and keep friends.Why we struggle with emotionsMany people struggle with identifying, analysing, and expressing their feelings. More often than not, we choose to suppress our emotions — especially the negative ones. We ignore or avoid them entirely instead of processing them as they come.This emotional suppression usually happens subconsciously. We silence our pain, mask our fear, bottle up our anger, or deny our disappointment. But hiding and repressing our feelings only strengthens them, the same way keeping the lid on a boiling kettle builds up pressure inside it.To avoid negative emotions, some people distract themselves with alcohol, excessive work, drugs, shopping, or other activities that give them temporary respite. But repressing emotions brings misery. Pretending you don't feel a certain way, or convincing yourself there's no need to deal with your feelings, simply adds unnecessary stress to your life and relationships.Navigating your emotionsSo how can you healthily navigate your emotions?The first step is to accept that feelings — both positive and negative — are a natural part of life. Rather than fighting your emotions, feel them as they come. Acknowledge them, recognise where they're coming from, and identify how they make you feel. This process will teach you more about the situation, yourself, and the person(s) responsible for the emotions.For instance, you might be feeling angry; but maybe you were just humiliated by your coworker who exposed some insecurities you need to work on. You might be feeling sad, but perhaps you've just been scrolling through LinkedIn or Instagram for too long, which made your own life or career path feel inferior by comparison. You might think you're unattractive, but maybe you're simply afraid of what the object of your affections thinks about you — which is causing you to hesitate to approach them.In each of these cases, the original feeling is tied to a deeper reason, and identifying this reason can help you figure out how to counter the negative emotion and chart a way forward.Expressing your emotionsYou can express your emotions by talking about them, or writing them down, and practising meditation and mindfulness. Speaking candidly (especially to the people involved) about how a person or situation made you feel is an effective way of clearing the air, healing the hurt, and moving forward positively.If you can't articulate your feelings, writing about them in a journal, blog, or personal diary may help. Lastly, mindfulness and meditation — whether manually or through digital apps — can help you slow down long enough to identify, label, and process your feelings regularly.Introspection and vulnerabilityLooking inward and asking yourself why you feel a certain way can help you learn more about your emotional triggers. This process, however, requires you to be vulnerable enough to acknowledge your feelings without judgement, shame, or guilt. By tuning in to the feeling (be it anger, sadness, frustration, fear, grief, depression, or more), you can focus your attention on solving the problem at hand.The more vulnerable you are — with yourself and with others — the better. While sharing your feelings may leave you feeling exposed, it comes across as courageous to others and builds trust and connection.Face your feelingsFacing negative feelings is an uncomfortable process. However, acknowledging your emotions reduces their intensity and make them easier to manage. Understanding why you feel what you feel tends to improve the quality of your life by helping you pinpoint your triggers, extract valuable lessons from situations, and build better relationships going forward.Lastly, while you may not control how you feel, you can control how you react. Emotions are temporary, but actions are permanent. Watch your words in moments of anger; avoid making permanent decisions during depression; and restrain yourself from making promises when you're happy. As with everything in life, balance and self-awareness are key.Till next time,Annastasia