Well here it is, July already…. 6 months into the year… 

How? 

How does it go so fast? 

Each year I ask myself this. And the older I get the faster it seems to go. 

As we bid farewell to the first half of the year and welcome the warmth of July, it's the perfect time to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on the intentions we set at the beginning of the year.

While the frenzy of everyday life often distracts us from our goals, checking in with our yearly intentions in July can serve as a valuable compass, steering us back on track and rekindling our motivation for our bigger life vision. 

Haven’t set intentions for your year yet? Not to worry, you can set intentions any time of the year!  Click the link below for your free step-by-step intention setting worksheet. 

  GRAB YOUR FREE INTENION SETTING WORKBOOK HERE 

In today’s post, I am going to share some tips and tricks on how you can check in with your yearly intentions and realign and recommit to the vision we had for the year ahead.

How to do a Mid-Year Check In: 

If you follow along with me, you know I appreciate understanding WHY I should do things. This not only satisfies my desire to learn more, but it also helps my brain to get on board with it. Knowing the logic and science behind manifesting and how I can harness the power of my brain is what I geek out on. 

So in reading the list below, in addition to a step-by-step framework to help you complete your mid-year check in on your goals; I’ve also given you the brain-based, science backed reasons why you should do this! Along with a bonus question to prompt some self-awareness and reflection

Remember we want to learn how to work with our brains!

1. Celebrate What Went Well So Far

Before diving into the nitty-gritty of assessing our intentions,  take a moment to celebrate the accomplishments and good things that have happened this year so far. 

• Why?  - Recognizing your progress boosts confidence and motivates you to continue striving for success.
• PROMPT: in reviewing the intentions you set in January, what has been going well so far? What is something you are really proud of? Create a list of all the positive things that have happened this year…. (bonus tip: create a note on your phone called “My Year Experiences” and each month add in bullet form the highlights (and lowlights) and learnings that you had. At the end of the year this will make reviewing your progress and creating new intentions so much easier). 

2. Review Your Intentions:

Retrieve the list of intentions or goals you outlined at the beginning of the year. Reflect on each item and ask yourself if they still hold significance and align with your present aspirations. Consider the changes that have occurred, both externally and internally, and reassess whether these intentions are still relevant and meaningful to you.

• Why? A Lot can happen in 6 months…. Also intention setting is fluid. It takes practice creating them… and therefore they may evolve or change over the year...check in with your intuition to see if everything still feels right… and what it is you really want? Better yet… compare against your bigger life vision. Don’t have a life vision? Learn more here…
• JOURNAL PROMPT: (looking at each intention you set): is this still aligned with what I want? Does it still feel right? What is the most important intention to me?

3. Evaluate Your Progress - Check in Where you are At:

Now, let's assess the progress you've made towards each intention. 

Are you on track, slightly behind, or have you veered off course completely? Be honest with yourself, as this evaluation will provide valuable insights into your strengths and areas that require more attention. Celebrate the strides you've taken and identify the areas where you need to refocus your efforts

• Why: When we highlight our strengths to our brain and celebrate them. Neuroscience tells us that the brain loves when it is awarded. And when we celebrate our wins, we reaffirm to our brains that we are on track.  While also consciously becoming aware of what areas may need more attention, we are training our brain on what area
• JOURNAL PROMPT: on a scale of 1-10 with 1 = “I totally dropped the ball/have not focused on this” and 10 = “I am crushing it” rate each intention to get a visual representation on where you need to celebrate and where you need to focus more attention on. .   

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4. Identify Obstacles and Adjust

It's essential to identify the obstacles or challenges that hindered your progress. Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and sometimes our intentions need adjustment to align with your current circumstances. Analyze the obstacles you faced, whether they were external factors or internal barriers, and brainstorm strategies to overcome them. Adapt your intentions if necessary, while remaining committed to the core essence of what you want to achieve.

• Why: Neuroscience tells us our brain runs on auto-pilot 90% of the time. Based off our thoughts, beliefs and upbringing. Becoming conscious of what obstacles you face and being intentional about how you can overcome them is imperative in helping us to rewire our brains. 
• JOURNAL PROMPT: Looking at your scaling question above… in the lower areas… ask yourself - what barrier am I facing that is keeping me from these areas?

5. Map out Actions for Alignment:

With a clear understanding of where you are at and the necessary adjustments you need to make, it's time to map out an action plan for the upcoming months. Break down your intentions into smaller, manageable steps. What is something you can do today to take small intentional steps towards being how you want to be for the rest of the year?

Some people may want to Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that will help you move closer to realizing your overall intentions. However, honestly, SMART goals sometimes scare people off and leave them feeling more ‘blah’ than motivated (I’m not saying they are not important…. They just have a time and a place in life). When I am looking at my intentions for the year, I like to focus on how I can BE each day…. And be very intentional about how I am showing up, tuning into my intuition and making choices moment to moment versus getting hyper focused on smart goals.

• Why: there is a time and place for SMART goals, in this exercise, you are looking at your overall intentions of how you want to show up in 2023 -remember it is about WHO you want to show up as, HOW you show up the energy in which you do it. 
• JOURNAL PROMPT: What are 2 things you can do in each intention that are easy and make you excited to implement?

6. Seek Support:

Remember that you don't have to navigate your journey alone. Reach out to trusted friends, family members, or mentors who can provide guidance, support, and accountability. Consider joining communities or seeking professional help if required. Having a support system can make a significant difference in staying motivated and staying on track with your intentions.

• Why: Surrounding ourselves with like minded people has a huge impact on life. This is a well known concept created by Jim Rohn that “ You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” In other words… surround yourself with like minded people who are going to life you up and support your dreams. 
• JOURNAL PROMPT: List out your 5 closest relationships…. Are they people you admire and lift you up? If not, how can you bring more people into your sphere that are more aligned with where you want your life to go?

7. Practice Self-Compassion:

While it's crucial to reflect, evaluate, and adjust, it's equally important to practice self-compassion throughout this process. Embrace any setbacks or challenges as learning opportunities rather than reasons for self-criticism. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that progress is not always linear. Celebrate small victories along the way and remember that every step forward, no matter how small, counts.

• Why: Self Compassion is a gift. When we are hyper focused on what went wrong, versus bringing awareness to went what well and what we need to focus on next, we can go down a negative loop hole. Practicing self-compassion, acknowledging the good and pivoting where needed will only help you keep momentum as the year continues. 
• JOURNAL PROMPT: How can you show yourself self-compassion right now? What do you need? 

As we find ourselves in the midst of July, it's the perfect time to reconnect with the intentions we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year. By reviewing our goals, evaluating our progress, and adjusting our plans if necessary, we can reignite our motivation and set ourselves up for success in the second half of the year. Remember, the journey towards our intentions is as important as the destination, and by embracing the process, we can find fulfillment and growth

Want to go deeper? Check out my free Pinterest Live TV Episode here as I walk you through this process with my personal goal-setting examples!