Category: Coach Carlynn

2026 Goals

2026 Goals

As we are upon the beginning edges of the new year, there’s often pressure to make big declarations. Goals. Plans. Resolutions. 

But instead of asking “What are my goals for this year?” I want to ask a gentler, more grounding question: 

Where do you want to be six months from now? 

Not just in what you’ve accomplished — but in how you feel. 

More rooted? 
Less hurried? 
More attuned to God’s presence in your everyday life? 

Sometimes clarity doesn’t come from striving harder, but from slowing down long enough to listen. 

Writing to Your Future Self 

One reflective practice I’ve found meaningful is writing a letter to my future self. 

There’s a free website called futureme.org that allows you to write an email now and schedule it to be delivered to you at a date you choose — six months from now, one year from now, or further into the future. 

This practice shifts the focus from pressure to presence. It invites you to speak to the person you are becoming with compassion instead of expectation. 

When the Letter Comes from a Deeper Place 

During last year’s Awaken Silent Retreat, Danielle, the host, handed out index cards at the end of that last day and asked us to write a letter to ourselves as if our Heavenly Father were writing it to us.  

She prompted us with these questions: 

  • What does He want to share with you? 
  • What does He want you to remember from this silent retreat? 

There’s something profoundly grounding about imagining God’s voice not as demanding or disappointed, but as loving, steady, and near. 

After we wrote those letters, we sealed them into an envelope, addressed them to our home addresses, and handed them into Danielle. About 6 weeks later, the letter I wrote was delivered to my mailbox.  

When I opened it, I knew what it was but could not remember what I had written. Here’s an excerpt: 

(You may want to read this slowly.) 

Dear Carlynn, 

Remember me in the awakening in the silence weekend. In the hurry and in the noise, remember me. Hold me close and tight. That’s the way I hold you. I am never far. I walk beside you. Quiet your mind. Quiet the falsehoods the enemy throws at you. Come to me for truth. Look up. Keep seeking my face when lies creep in. I am your source of truth.  

Love, 

Your Heavenly Father 

Prompts for Your Own Letter 

If you decide to email to your future self at futureme.org — or write a letter as if God were speaking to you — here are a few prompts to guide you: 

  • What do you want your future self to remember that you know will get lost in the chaos of the year? 
  • What’s important to you right now? Why? 
  • What are your goals? Where do you see yourself 6 months from now? How does it feel? 
  • If you were having a conversation with God, how does He see you? What does He want you to remember? 
  • What does He want you to release? 
  • What does He want you to trust? 
  • How does He invite you to walk into the next season? 

You don’t need perfect words. You just need honesty and openness. 

A Gentle Invitation 

This kind of reflection — slowing down, listening, and responding — is at the heart of the work I care most about. It’s the kind of space I hope to continue creating here through writing, and eventually through coaching: a place to reflect, discern, and move forward with intention rather than urgency. 

You don’t have to rush your growth. You don’t have to have everything figured out. 

Six months from now — or one year from now — you may be surprised by what has quietly taken root simply because you chose to pause, listen, and take one faithful step at a time. 

Feelings and Resiliency

Feelings and Resiliency

My full time job has been marked with lots of feelings this year.

My company has had 15 – 20% headcount reductions (read as layoffs).

I was in the first round of reductions. Thankfully, I am still gainfully employed.

That is not true for many people, including the team I was a part for the last 2 years.

My former team’s positions were eliminated entirely. At the end of the first round, 2 teammates elected to retire or voluntarily leave; 4 were left standing (meaning they were laid off); and 3 of us were placed in other positions.

How rapidly it all happened was shocking. One day we were a team and the next I would not see some of my team members anymore.

Corporate world can be and is brutal. I’ve personally experienced headcount reductions 4 times in my 14 year career so far. I’m certain there will be more.

Beginning at the end of 2024, my team and others began preparing employees for what was coming.

The uncertainty that lingers for months in advance of knowing if you have a job or not is stressful!

We lean on tools to strengthen our resiliency during these times. These tools equip us for what will ultimately come. They remind us to be flexible and lean into strengths. Focus on what we can control and loosen our grip on what we cannot.

They are good reminders during this time. And while these tools don’t take away the hardship of enduring one of these reductions, it can help shift our mindset..

In February of 2025, I gave a presentation about Feelings and Resilience. Here is what I shared.

Referring to the Feeling Wheel, if you had to name the feeling(s) you have right now, what would it be?

Are you surprised that there are so many feelings? And yet, they can connect back to 6 core feelings.

What feelings do you tend to ignore?

Do you think it’s possible to ignore “bad” feelings and only experience “good” feelings? Why or why not?

Early this year, I finished reading Brene Brown’s book, The Gifts of Imperfection.

What I didn’t know before I read the book was how much resiliency is incorporated into imperfection.

Brene writes, when we become more accepting of uncomfortable feelings, we become more flexible and can enjoy life more fully even with feelings of discomfort.

In her book she notes:

  • Shame, guilt, fear, despair, disappointment, and sadness are difficult feelings that tend to cause vunerability, discomfort, and pain.
  • The most powerful feelings we experience have very sharp points, like the tip of a thorn.
  • Which usually leads to modes of distraction to get away from the uncomfortable feelings. Such as…mindless scrolling, eating, drinking, shopping, staying busy, work, choas, etc.

Everyone moves away from feelings of discomfort.

We also must remember that we cannot selectively ignore feelings.

“When we numb the dark, we numb the light.”

We can’t make a list of “bad” feelings and say, “I’m going to ignore these” and then list the positive feelings and say, “I’m going to fully engage in these!”

It doesn’t work that way.

Let’s explore the feeling of Joy.

To love and/or believe in something with your whole heart; to engage in a life that doesn’t come with guarantees…these involve the risk of vulnerability and often pain.

AND

Great joy can come from them.

Feelings of hopelessness, fear, blame, pain, discomfort, vulnerability, and disconnection sabotage our resilience and well being.

The only experience broad and fierce enough to combat a list like that is the belief that we’re all in this together and that something greater than ourselves has the capacity to bring love and compassion into our lives.

Practicing spirituality is what brings about healing and creates resilience.

Spirituality is being able to adhere to beliefs, principles or values needed to persevere and prevail in accomplishing missions.

Here is an example of the ways I’ve leaned into my spirituality practice.

Having a sense of purpose, meaning, and perspective in our lives allows us to develop understanding and move forward. Without purpose, meaning, and perspective, it is easy to lose hope, numb our emotions, or become overwhelmed by our circumstances.

We feel reduced, less capable, and lost in the face of struggle. The heart of spirituality is connection and through that, we won’t feel alone.

How do you know that you are ignoring uncomfortable feelings?

Recognizing and leaning into (not away) from discomfort of vulnerability teaches us how to live with joy, gratitude, and grace.

We live in a both/and world.

We can experience discomfort and joy. They are not mutually exclusive.

When you have the awareness, what can you do to practice leaning into the discomfort?

How can you lean into the discomfort of vulnerability and let joy in as well?

Exercise Prompt:

Hold up both hands, palms up and open. Can you practice holding the feelings of discomfort in one hand and the “good” feelings in the other hand? In fact, write on one open palm your feelings of discomfort and then write the “good” feelings on the other open palm. Practicing holding and experiencing both.

An Overlooked Tool for Leaders

An Overlooked Tool for Leaders

Are you a leader of people?

Are you an influential leader? Influential doesn’t always mean you have direct reports. It means you collaborate with and guide others toward outcomes, often without formal authority. This ability to influence is essential for moving initiatives forward and being successful in your role.

Hint: we are all influential leaders!

This applies in the workplace, in your community, and at home. For example, parents—especially of teenagers—quickly learn that influence is far more powerful than control. The same principle applies to managers, project leads, and peers working across departments.

Too often we think leadership means being “the one in charge” with a team reporting to you. In reality, the most effective leaders know that influence, not control, is what drives collaboration, innovation, and long-term results.

One area all leaders have in common is working with people. Whether it’s direct reports or those you’re influencing to move initiatives and projects forward, managing and influencing people is a complex skill set—one you learn and refine over time.

Leaders are not mind readers. People are many shades of gray, shaped by their unique experiences, perspectives, and stories.

Every individual sees the world through their own lens, influenced by both their career and personal life. Effective leaders embrace this complexity and work to understand, adapt, and connect.

Leadership can also reach frustration and overwhelm quickly.

With constant technological change, leaders are stretched thin—running from meeting to meeting while processing an overwhelming amount of information.

The human mind was not designed to handle this relentless pace with clarity.

In such a fast-paced world, we’ve lost the art of slowing down. Reflection has become a forgotten tool.

Slowing down can feel archaic when demands push us to go faster and faster.

But the question remains: What are we missing by moving so fast? How would you even know what’s slipping past you when life is lived at lightning speed?

One underutilized tool for leaders is keeping a journal. Not typing notes into a phone or laptop—but physically writing in a journal with a physical pen and paper.

The physical act of writing slows down the mind automatically.

It creates space for reflection, and helps leaders process their experiences, challenges, and decisions in a deeper way.

It allows leaders to know and understand their unique perspectives. Which in turn will enhance their decision making every day.

A leader’s unique perspective is the source of creativity and competitive advantage.

In today’s AI world, tapping into creativity and having a competitive advantage is paramount.

Without slowing down and using journaling as a tool, we lose the art of listening to ourselves and our innate wisdom.

How do you create a discipline of journaling?

  1. Don’t over complicate it!
  2. Buy a journal.
  3. Set aside 15 minutes of uninterrupted time either at the beginning or end of your day to journal.
  4. Block that time on your calendar!
  5. Close your computer.
  6. Silence your notifications on your phone.
  7. Set a timer for 15 minutes.
  8. Write.

“Ok, great”, you might say. “But, what in the world do I write about? Especially when this feels like a weird, new thing to do?”

Great question!

Journal Prompts for Leaders.

Pick one to get started. What you journal about could either be personal or professional.

  1. What has been at the forefront of my mind today?
  2. What is keeping me up at night?
  3. What has been a common theme this week/last week?
  4. What are my priorities? Do those priorities stack up against the work I’m doing and meetings I’m attending?
  5. What needs to change?
  6. What am I missing?
  7. What is a circular thought pattern I’m having that I can’t find a solution?

Bonus Tips:

  1. Let yourself write whatever comes to mind.
  2. Do not have an agenda.
  3. No judgements in what you write about or don’t write about.
  4. Let the writing flow.
  5. Don’t be surprised if you start writing about one topic and you finish on another topic.
  6. Trust the process.
  7. Trust that whatever you write down is exactly what needed to be written and reflected upon.
  8. You just might surprise yourself.

Asking ourselves questions and slowing down to reflect brings us back to what is meaningful, what we believe in, and overall gives us purpose.

And if leaders reconnect to their purpose, that purpose will flow through them to those they influence. <– this is motivating and inspiring! It will have a ripple effect on your team and those you work alongside.

And all of this is a great ROI!

Challenge: Commit to journaling 15 minutes everyday for a month. Then, reflect on how it helped and enhanced your leadership.

In a world where we feel like we can’t slow down, it’s often exactly what leaders need.

For more reasons to journal, check this blog post: 12 Reasons to Keep a Journal

How to Save Your First $1,000 Emergency Fund

How To Save Your First $1,000 Emergency Fund

Before aggressively paying down debt, it’s smart to build a small emergency fund. This $1,000 acts as a financial safety net. It protects your goals when life throws the unexpected your way, like a car repair or medical bill. With this cushion, you can handle surprises without derailing your progress.

Check out my recent personal story and why I was so thankful we had our emergency fund in place.

Why $1,000?

It’s enough to cover most small emergencies, giving you breathing room and reducing the temptation to reach for credit cards or loans.

3 Ways to Save Your First $1,000 Emergency Fund

1. Cut Back on Expenses:

  • Skip eating out for a month — potential savings: $250–$500
  • Have a “no spend” month (necessities only) — potential savings: $150–$250
  • Pause online shopping — potential savings: $200+
  • Discontinue subscriptions (streaming, etc.) — potential savings: $90 – $100

2. Side Hustle for Extra Cash:

  • Babysitting — $15–$20/hour
  • Dog walking — $15–$25/hour
  • Rideshare driving — $18–$25/hour
  • Freelance work (writing, design, admin) — $20–$40/hour
  • Grocery or food delivery — $15–$25/hour

3. Sell Stuff You Don’t Use:

  • Host a garage sale — potential earnings: $200–$500
  • Sell on Facebook Marketplace — potential earnings: $50–$300
  • List items on eBay or Poshmark — potential earnings: $50–$200

Putting It All Together:
Combine strategies — cut back spending, pick up a short-term side hustle, and sell unused items. You could reach your $1,000 goal in as little as 4–6 weeks.

Bottom Line:
Your first $1,000 emergency fund is your buffer between life’s surprises and your financial goals. Build it fast — and watch your confidence grow as you tackle your debt next. This will build momentum as you tackle your next financial goal!

Emergency Funds: Why is it Important & How Much is Enough?

Emergency Funds: Why is it Important & How Much is Enough?

Life happens, right?

It happened to us recently. A few Sundays ago, I was in the bathroom getting ready.

My husband, Jeff, was in the attic. Some of you are already anticipating what I’m going to tell you. 🫣

He was in the attic inspecting how much electrical wire we had to complete a project.

His footsteps sounded hard and loud!

Then, a very loud crack, crash, and I came running out of the bathroom into the bedroom to see what in the world was happening.

It sounded like the house was falling in.

And it kinda did…Jeff fell through the ceiling of our bedroom.

Lovely.

He wasn’t hurt. Thank goodness!

He was able to catch himself before his whole body came through the ceiling.

The damage was done. A Jeff sized hole in the ceiling of our bedroom.

Of course, Jeff was leaving for a work trip the next day too. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Emergency Funds: Why is it Important & How Much is Enough?

We managed to get the hole covered with plywood, a trash bag, and tarp before he left for his trip.

My biggest concern while he was gone is I didn’t want the heat coming into the house from the attic. Hello late June in Houston = HOT! And I didn’t want any critters crawling in from the attic either!

A few weeks later, we were able to get someone to come and patch it for us.

Why an Emergency Fund?

Accidents happen as does life stuff, right? This is a great example!

This made me so thankful for our emergency fund that we have in place. Which meant, other than the inconvenience, we didn’t have to worry about it. We had the money to have it fixed. Cost and labor was about $350.

This is not a brag post about our emergency fund. This is a post to ask, “are you prepared financially when accidents and life happen?”

I’m pretty sure you’ve experienced a car breakdown, a flat tire, the kitchen sink leaking, a toilet overflows, the dryer goes out, etc. Feel free to add to this list.

When these things happen, they are ALWAYS inconvenient.

If you put space between yourself and the life happens stuff, it will only ever be an inconvenience.

The space or distance you create between yourself and the life stuff is called an emergency fund.

You can also think of an emergency fund as protection from life stuff.

How Much is Enough in an Emergency Fund?

Everyone should have, at minimum, $1,000 in an emergency fund.

This is true if you are a college student or someone that has a full time job and is working toward financial goals, such as paying off debt.

Now, if you have no consumer debt (no car, student loan, credit card, etc.), then the next step would be to grow your emergency fund to 3 – 6 months worth of expenses.

How much is 3 – 6 months worth of expenses? Great question!

Your budget would be a great tool to help you find your living expenses. How much are you spending to live each month?

These expenses would include:

  • Rent or mortgage payments
  • Utilities – water, gas, electricity, internet, phone
  • Transportation costs – gas, tolls, etc.
  • Food – groceries, not restaurants
  • Insurance – car, house, renters’, etc.
  • Medical expenses – copays, prescriptions, etc.
  • Pet expenses – food, medical, etc.

Imagine you just lost your job. What do you do? How are you going to live?

I recently went through an organizational restructure in the company in which I work full-time.

Fortunately, I have a job now. However, many of my teammates were laid off. What do you do in those circumstances?

One way to prepare is to have 3 – 6 months worth of expenses saved to help create space or protection between you, your family, and a major life event… like job loss.

This will give you room to breathe and time to find your next job.

Life stuff happens. It’s not fair when it does.

But, you know it will happen, so there is no reason to delay getting an emergency fund started if you don’t already have one.

Tip: Emergency fund money should be in its own separate savings account. Do not include in your checking account.

Next week, let’s talk about ways to save your first $1,000 in your emergency fund.

Finding 1 Hour for Silence Each Week

Finding 1 Hour of Silence Each Week

This week, I listened to another great podcast. It was an interview conducted by Ken Coleman with Carlos Whittaker in the Front Row Seat podcast, linked here.

Highly recommend a listen!

The reason I listened wasn’t because I knew who Carlos Whittaker was. I didn’t. Rather, it was the title of the interview, Simple Daily Habits to Get Years of Your Life Back. My interest was piqued.

Who doesn’t want more time back in your life?

This conversation would be about Carlos’ journey with the amount of time spent on his phone.

He was spending 7 hours a day on his phone. Calculate that out…that’s 49 hours a week! That’s a full-time job! In his calculations, he discovered that maintaining this rate would lead to spending 10 years of his remaining life on his phone!

We can all be convicted about how much screen time we have each day. I know I can. My current rate is around 4 hours a day. I’d like to improve this to no more than 3 hours a day, maybe even less.

What is your daily screen time rate?

Carlos shares the extreme measures he took to re-center and reconnect his life. This includes living with monks and then an Amish family for a while!

As the interview progressed, Carlos recommended that everyone find one (1) hour each week for total silence. He gave the example of finding a park bench and sitting there with no phone. Take nothing to read. Just sit in silence. One (1) hour each week, that’s it.

He re-discovered, when he put his phone down, how much we’ve lost the art to wonder and be curious when we can Google the answer to any question in a split second. We’ve forgotten how to notice and be aware because our phones have all our attention.

I’m also a big believer in silence and stillness. I was excited that Carlos encouraged this practice!

When I share that I have attended 2 silent retreats, people often look at me like I’m crazy. But, what I have found is that silence and stillness are tools for navigating the modern world. The modern world is never quiet.

You can watch a video I made about attending Awaken Silent Retreat here.

We weren’t designed to consume so much information or to be available to everyone all the time.

The question to ask yourself is, “What am I missing?”

What are you missing by never allowing yourself a moment of

  • reflection
  • silence
  • wonder
  • curiosity?

What are you missing by allowing your phone to have all your attention?

What are you missing by filling every second with something?

What would happen if you had that 1 hour of silence every week?

What might be available for you in the hour of silence?

The truth is you don’t know until you try it. You won’t know until you try it as a practice.

Prompt: Try practicing 1 hour of silence each week for a month. Then, re-evaluate.

After listening to the podcast, I went for a walk. I walk every evening in my neighborhood.

I decided to bring my phone, but keep it in my pocket.

Notifications off.

No listening to music.

No listening to a podcast.

No talking on the phone.

No texting.

Just walk and silence.

What I found was that my mind was going 90 miles an hour. I was thinking about ALL the things I wanted to get done or needed to get done. I was making a to do list in my mind.

But after 15 minutes of walking in silence, my mind got quieter. And by the end of the walk, my to do list wasn’t important. I had downshifted.

I noticed a beautiful home for sale in my neighborhood. I also observed wild ducks perched in trees and even on top of roofs.

What would I have missed if I continued to use my phone while on my walk instead of choosing silence?

I would have missed the chance to downshift from my busy day.

I would have missed the chance to let the to-do list float away.

I would have missed smiling at the silly, wild ducks on top of roofs.

I would have missed a chance to allow myself to relax.

Our world is filled with distractions. The world is not going to allow you to not be distracted.

That’s your choice. You get to choose.

You get to decide on electing a little bit of silence in your life instead of more distraction.

If this is a goal you’d like to incorporate in your life. I can help with that!

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6 Ways to Know If Coaching is Right for You?

6 Ways to Know If Coaching is Right for You?

Meet My Ideal Client

You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from coaching. You do, however, need clarity, curiosity, and a desire to grow. Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, leading a team, getting your finances in order, or simply longing for a more grounded life, the type of coaching I offer creates the space to pause, reflect, and move forward with purpose.

So how do you know if coaching with me is right for you?

Let’s take a look.

You Want to Grow, Not Just Survive

You may feel capable, but also stuck. You’ve read the books, listened to the podcasts, made the lists, and still aren’t moving the needle the way you hoped. Coaching helps you break out of survival mode and step into strategic, intentional growth.

You’re Ready to Get Clear and Take Action

Many of my clients come to coaching with vague goals. They express a desire such as “I want a better job.” Some say, “I need to stop overspending.” Others mention, “I just want to feel more at peace.” Coaching helps define what “better,” “stop,” and “peace” actually look like, and then map a path to get there.

You’re Open to Support and Feedback

Coaching is not consulting or therapy; it’s a collaborative process. I’ll ask the questions you may not have thought to ask. I’ll notice patterns, challenge assumptions, and offer frameworks to help you see and move differently. That works best when you’re open to honest reflection, feedback, and practical support.

You Want to Lead, Communicate, and Live with Integrity

Whether you’re leading a team or leading your own life, how you show up matters. I help you improve communication with peers, teams, and senior leaders. We work on presence, empathy, clarity, and confidence…not as buzzwords, but as daily practices.

You’re Done Hustling Without a Plan

You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through life. If you’re tired of feeling busy but ineffective, you’re in the right place. If you want to shift from spinning your wheels to seeing real progress, this is where you belong. We’ll use proven tools to help you slow down, set intentional goals, and make peace a priority.

What You Bring to the Table: The Client’s Role

Great coaching is a two-way relationship. If you’re considering coaching with me, here’s what I ask of you:

  • Have a goal in mind that you want to achieve.
  • Recognize that you haven’t been successful reaching it on your own.
  • Be curious about what’s missing and open to support.
  • Show up prepared to discuss your progress and challenges.
  • Be ready to apply the resources and tools we discuss.
  • Be open to transformational change and the work required to get there.
  • Be willing to experiment with new strategies.
  • Be committed to your goals, and persistent in pursuing them.

If that sounds like you, coaching can be a powerful catalyst. Let’s get started!

If you’re not quite there yet — that’s okay too. Sometimes readiness is the first step.

Let’s Talk

Curious if coaching is right for this season of your life? I’d love to hear your story and explore how we might work together.

Let’s connect and start mapping your next step with purpose, clarity, and momentum.

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Halfway Through 2025: New Year’s Goals Revisited

Halfway Through 2025: New Year's Goals Revisited

Did you blink? Yep — it’s June already!

Maybe your New Year’s Goals are thriving. Or, maybe they’re MIA?

Either way, you’re halfway through the year.

Most of us set ambitious goals in January and then quietly abandon them month by month. Not because we’re lazy, but because we focus on what we want… not how we’ll get there.

Let’s explore a better way to achieve our goals.

Start With the Goal

What goal (or goals) did you set?

Defining your goal is a great start. What makes the difference between goal setting and accomplishing your goals is strategy. Strategy is how you will accomplish your goals. This year, I’ve been studying for the Psychology of Leadership certificate program with Cornell University. Part of this program includes diving into the psychology of getting things done.

What I’ve learned has helped me approach goals differently. It’s less about pressure and stress, and not about relying on motivation and momentum. It’s about progress, not perfection.

1. Make Your Goals Stretch…Just Enough

Goals should feel like a challenge. They need to stretch you beyond your comfort zone. Far enough to spark focus, but not so far they leave you overwhelmed.

For example, my workout routine already consists of 4 days of workouts each week. One of my goals is to add a 5th cardio day to my weekly workouts. It’s not a total overhaul — just enough to push me physically without burning me out.

2. Stack New Habits Onto Old Ones

One of my favorite strategies? Habit stacking. It’s the idea of anchoring a new habit to something you already do.

If you already make coffee every morning, you could pair that moment with a review of your top three tasks. Or if you already set your phone on the charger at night, use that moment to write down one thing you’re grateful for.

This takes effort out of your system, and lets routine do the work.

It’s important to note that often we think we should push ourselves into accomplishing a goal. This will lead to burnout! You can’t rely on motivation because life happens and our motivation muscles get fatigued. Use your routine to add on or tweak here and there. This strategy is so much more sustainable long term.

3. Use If-Then Planning (a.k.a. Implementation Intentions)

Want to follow through on your goals more consistently? Implementation intentions can help. It’s about creating a trigger-based plan: *”If X happens, then I will do Y.”

For example: “If it’s Monday between 5-6 pm, then I will workout.” Or “If it’s bedtime, I will read my daily Bible reading through Bible Recap.”

These small, specific cues reduce the need for motivation, and increase follow-through.

4. Break It Down with Mini Goals

Big goals can feel overwhelming. That’s why it’s helpful to break them down into weekly or monthly mini-goals. These smaller wins build momentum and give you natural check-in points to see what’s working or what needs to shift.

For example, instead of “Payoff $10,000 in debt this year,” maybe I track:

  • Pay $833.33 toward debt each month
  • Earn an extra $208.33 each week

Now the goal isn’t a vague aspiration — it’s a system with checkpoints.

5. Build in Feedback Loops

The best goals aren’t fixed — they evolve. Ask: “Is this working?” “Is this still meaningful?” “What’s getting in the way?”

Goals should talk back. If they’re not moving you forward, it’s not a failure — it’s feedback in the form of data points. Use that data to refine the process.

Evaluation of My 2025 Goals

These are goals I set in January of this year. I’ll give you an evaluation of how it’s going below. I will also show how I can tweak the goals to make them more attainable if they are lagging behind. Alternatively, I may decide to remove a goal altogether.

Here are the categories of my goals.

Reduce Mental Stress
  • Simplify meal prep planning — Create monthly menus. Evaluation: This one progressed through February and now it’s no longer important to continue this year. I took on too many goals and this one will remain on the list for the future!
  • Boundaries on phone and distractions. Evaluation: This one has been hit and miss which tells me I need to define it more. I can make this one more robust by using an “if-then” strategy. If it’s 8:00 pm, my phone is put away until the next morning.
Physical
  • Continue 4 days/week workouts. Evaluation: This one has been a success. I attribute the success because I decided early on that my workout days are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The time I workout on those days are between 5:00 and 6:00 pm. This is part of my routine and it’s a habit. (Hint: Success of this goal is due to implementation intentions)
  • Add 5th day of cardio (interval running). Evaluation: Due to shin splints, I have not been able to run. I’ve shifted to include additional interval cardio after weight training. I usually watch a fun or interesting YouTube video while I’m getting my cardio in. This is an example of Habit Stacking.
Spiritual
  • Attend Silent Retreat in April. Evaluation: This one has been completed.
  • Begin Bible Recap. Evaluation: This one is going well. I have begun reading through the Bible using the Bible Recap. I have consistently been reading for 100 days. (Hint: the success of this goal is due to breaking it down to mini-goals or a daily reading plan)
Social
  • Attend 1 Girls House Church event every other month. Evaluation: This one is going well.
Marriage
  • Monthly date night experiences. Evaluation: My hubby purchased a set of scratch off date cards. These cards tell you what to do for a date night. We followed through with this through March. This goal needs more definition using implementation intentions. If it’s the third Saturday of the month, we will go on a date night experience.
Professional
  • 1 blog post every Friday. Evaluation: Success! Posting a blog post every Friday!
  • 1 article submission to Tish Co News each month. Evaluation: I’ve submitted 5 articles so far and will turn in another article this week. Turning in articles monthly has built accountability. This habit has helped me write not only for Tish Co News, but also my blog. *Ahem* this is habit stacking!

Looking at this list, I know I won’t hit every target perfectly. And that’s not the point.

The point is to design goals that fit real life. To stretch, but not snap. To evolve, not obsess.

So if you’re halfway through the year and wondering if it’s too late to get back on track — it’s not.

You don’t need more motivation. You just need better methods and a strategy!

Here’s to a second half that’s more intentional, more grounded, and more aligned with who you’re becoming.

If you’re looking for someone to help you with your goals. Help you create implementation intentions, habit stack, define stretch goal, and/or hold accountability for those goals. I’m here for that! That’s what a coach does, after all. Use the submission form below and let’s get after those goals!

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Thank you for your response. ✨

What is Coaching?

What is Coaching?

Think of a coach you’ve had in your life or maybe your kids’ life. What did they do that was so effective? Coaches do many things, like:

  • Encourage
  • Teach techniques
  • Improve Performance
  • Identify gaps in performance
  • Challenge
  • Inspire
  • Hold you Accountable
  • Create a plan (or playbook) to reach your goals
  • Build trust
  • Unlock the next level

What else would you add to this list?

I am not a sports type of coach, although coaching for me started in the fitness industry. Read more about that here. While coaching began for me in fitness, it has evolved into Financial Coaching, Career Coaching, Leadership Coaching, and coaching on Personal Wellness. Most people would attribute the bulleted list above to a sports coach…these descriptors also describe what I do in coaching clients about their finances, careers, leadership, and personal wellness.

This type of coaching is a one-on-one conversation with a purpose. I don’t use equipment outside on a field in my coaching. Although I do have different sets of tools and resources to help you achieve your goals. I teach you what the tools are and how to apply them.

Financial, Career, Leadership, and Personal Wellness coaching focuses on the individual. I coach the whole person. What does that mean? It means that I aim to not only help find solutions to problems, but to facilitate transformational change. Focusing only on finding solutions would limit the depth of change for clients. Humans are complex beings made up of emotions, values, systems of beliefs, etc. These parts must be considered in the foundation of how we make decisions and take action. Otherwise, real change may be limited.

How does it work? If you decided you wanted to be coached, we would first meet to discuss your goals. Then, we would get very specific on what that goal is, and determine how we would measure progress. From there, we would map out a plan to get you to your goal. This plan would let us know how many coaching sessions would be needed.

As Your Coach, You Can Expect…

My job as a coach is to identify gaps and equip you with tools and resources. Educate you on how to apply the tools and resources. I ask you powerful questions to unlock self-discovery and insight. I hold you accountable and shift your mindset. I listen and build trust with you. I walk alongside you and give you feedback on what’s working well and what isn’t. I inject hope, encourage you, and challenge you. I inspire you to get out of your comfort zone and achieve your goals!

Expectations of the Client…

Your job as the client is to:

  • come to the coaching session prepared to discuss progress and challenges
  • apply the resources and tools
  • be open to transformational change and the work to get there
  • be open to experimenting with new strategies
  • put in the hard work
  • be committed to your goals
  • persistent in achieving your goals

Are you ready to get after your goals? Fill out the form below and let me know how I can best coach you. Let’s go!

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What is Perspective Confessions?

Perspective Confessions

Hi! I’m Carlynn creator of Perspective Confessions. Welcome! I’m so glad you are here! The idea of Perspective Confessions was born in 2015. Writing has been a practice in my life starting in grade school and it made sense to create Perspective Confessions to be able to share articles, journal entries, musings, etc. about topics such as career, financial health, and overall wellbeing with all of you. When I write, I am able to connect with myself, unearth hidden truths much more easily than when I’m talking to a friend. Did you know that truth telling = confession? To confess is to tell the truth. Most, if not all of us, don’t stay connected to ourselves all the time. Our lives are filled with distractions and it takes work to get connected back up with yourself to understand how you might feel about something, know what decision to make, or to get connected to what’s true. Writing helps me do all those things. At some point, the writings in my journal shifted from writing just for myself to writing so that others could read it too. The truths that I’ve unearthed for myself I want to share it more broadly because my words might be the words that someone else needs, can relate to, and/or help them think about a situation from a different perspective. By the way, the quote below is from an amazing book, Living Fearless by Jamie Winship. Highly recommend!

“Truth always sets you free. Hiding truth always makes you a slave. If you will not tell the truth, you’re in bondage to the lie, the deception, and the rationalization.” – Living Fearless by Jamie Winship

Coach

As my professional life has advanced, I received my Financial Coaching certification and in my full-time Corporate America job, I am a Leadership Coach. You can learn more about financial health here, and you can read more about my experience with coaching in this post. Whether it be with writing or working one on one with others, the commonality is that I enjoy helping and connecting with people.

Career Confessions

Before I was able to climb the corporate ladder, I struggled mightily. A lot with anxiety. In my mid to late twenties, I went through some big life changes that included moving from a small town to a big city, combating severe anxiety, losing my mom, and divorce. I wrote a full series on my Career Confessions that you can read about here. I share tips about how I found new ways of working with anxiety, shifted my mindset, and slowly climbed the career ladder.

Wellbeing

Yes, writing about all those struggles makes me vulnerable. I hold the belief that we can learn from one another. Sharing helps us not feel alone or like we are the “only ones”. I listened to a podcast a long time ago that said we would not need therapists or counselors if we lived in good, healthy community because that good, healthy community would give us supportive and constructive feedback, come alongside the hard parts of life, share tools to help with life, etc. I believe that is true. The vast majority of us, though, live in isolation especially with today’s technology. And because of that, the need to be mindful and intentional with our wellbeing is paramount.

I’d love it if you’d join me as we learn about career, financial health, and overall wellbeing. Curiosity is key  in exploring differing perspectives…zooming out to see the big picture and zooming in to look at things more closely. It’s the push and pull of these vantage points that we can learn the most. Perspective Confessions is the source for inspiration for those who want to learn and grow. I am continually growing and learning; unearthing discoveries, and sharing truth or confessions I’ve learned along with the way from varying perspectives.. Perspective Confessions is about getting to the root of challenges as it relates to career, financial, and overall wellbeing and creating a toolbox of resources from what’s learned to equip you for the next step. If you want tools to manage your career and finances, value slowing down for a better quality of life, and aren’t afraid of being challenged; then you are in the right place.

If you know of someone that:

  • is struggling with their career,
  • struggles with anxiety or with big life changes,
  • wants to get their finances back on track,
  • wants to find a better balance in their life from the fast track, fast paced life they’re living, please share perspectiveconfessions.com with them!

And by all means, don’t miss any Perspective Confessions posts. Make sure you subscribe!

Financial Health, Career, and Wellbeing