Ep 20: January Reflections: Celebrating Small Wins and Overcoming Setbacks

Hello, Confidence Builders. Welcome back to Beyond Doubt Unleashing Confidence, your favourite weekly boast of inspiration and empowerment.

We are off to a great start today. I'm your host, Nefe Oguntoye, and this is episode 20. Today, we're focusing on reflecting on January wins and lessons.

If you've ever felt stuck halfway through the first month of the year wondering did I really accomplish anything then this episode is tailor-made for you we'll discuss why it's important to celebrate even the tiniest of achievements how to laugh in the face of sip ups yes I said laugh and how much well how see I'm slipping up right now I can't even read the script but I wrote so and and how to march forward with renewed optimism now if you'd like a deep dive into everything we

chat about today don't forget to go to the full write-up or the blog post at nefewwellness.com so do check that out for more detailed insight so very nice cuppa one snub corner and let's get started with some reflection. Trust me, this is the fun kind of reflection, no stiff upper lip required. Part one, setting the stage. Ah, January.

The month of squeaky new diaries, fresh resolutions and let's be honest, the leftover mince pies, We insist on finishing before truly starting our healthy living plan. It's a month brimming with potential but also loaded with pressure. We often tell ourselves, this year I'm going to learn six languages, run a marathon and master the art of sourdough bread.

Then reality sweeps in. maybe we only learn five words of french jog around the block once and burn the sourdough so badly that the smoke alarm wants an apology does that sound familiar well that's exactly why reflection is your secret weapon by taking a moment to look back you can separate the good bits from the not so good bits and figure out what tweaks are needed for next month so if january doesn't precisely go as planned you're in great company my burnt toes,

fiasco can attest to that part two celebrating small victories. Let's jump right into the winds because they're more fun to talk about aren't they, Small victories are the building blocks of our larger success. You might think, but Nefe, I didn't summit Everest. I just managed to drink two litres of water daily. Well, guess what? That is a huge step forward in terms of self-care and you must celebrate it. I've got a few examples of small victories from my own life.

So early wake-up calls. i decided to start my day 15 minutes 15 minutes earlier to fit in a mindfulness practice lo and behold those 15 minutes actually became my favorite part of the morning well after my first well after my first sip of coffee decluttering the desk my workspace had turned into the boonier triangle from post-it notes open letters receipts i finally sorted them into a neat pile or two. Now I can see an actual surface beneath them and it's positively liberating.

Three, communication check-ins. I made a commitment to call family members more often. Doesn't sound like much but it dramatically improved my mood and strengthened connections.

Feel free to pop over to neffywellness.com where we've dedicated an entire blog post to the power of these seemingly small wins trust me they're the stepping stones that transform you from i'll never get anything done to i'm actually smashing this now part three lessons from the tricky bits now let's shine a light on those little oops moments we've all been there setbacks unexpected hurdles or plain old disasters i had one just last week when i attempted a new budgeting

method the famous cash envelope system it was going swimmingly until i discovered i'd misplaced the envelope labeled groceries let's just say pizza deliveries became an unplanned but tasty necessity what did I learn from that episode well organization is key and also it's probably wise to keep a digital login addition to physical envelopes so yes it was a hiccup but it was also an excellent lesson challenges zip-ups or even face plants can

be our greatest teachers when we dig into the why behind them. Here are a couple of real-life examples I've seen version around. One, project overwhelm. A friend tried to launch a brand new business and bake a three-tiered cake for a family gathering simultaneously. You can't imagine how that turned out. Overcooked spreadsheets and undercooked cake. Her key takeaway was to focus on one big goal at a time.

Two fitness fop another friend signed up for an early morning yoga challenge two days in she realized 5am was basically the middle of the night for her now she practices at lunchtime and it's more consistent than ever the moral of the story hiccups don't define you they gently or sometimes, not so gently, push you to re-evaluate your plans so you can come back stronger and maybe even have a laugh about it later. It's all part of building that unstoppable confidence we're chasing.

All right, lovely listeners, it's your turn. Think of one thing in January that made you feel proud. Maybe it was braving the cold toward the dog or finally reading that book you've been meaning to finish? Next, consider one stumbling block you encountered. Did you learn anything from it?

How might you use that lesson as fuel for your future ambitions? I love to hear your stories, positives, negatives and all the in-betweens.

Slide into my DMs on Instagram, simply search Nefe86 or join our Facebook group the Beyond Doubt community where we collectively share each other or cheer each other on sharing is fearing especially when it comes to building confidence oh I forgot to say that was part four me hearing from you now we're moving on to part five practical strategies for ongoing growth I'm just having a great time today like this is this episode is not going to plan I've had

like two months off and then my last two episodes have just been like I'm feeling like this at the moment let me just share something so I really wanted to have something well planned and organized today and my words are just they're just leaving me but done is better than perfect. That is one of my mottos, so I'm carrying on. Anyway, this is part five, practical strategies for ongoing growth. Now, for the practical side of things, reflecting and taking action is.

Otherwise, we'll just have a nice chat and forget to actually do anything. Here are three strategies you can start or apply straight away. Number one, success log. Keep a notebook or use a note-taking app to chop down every little accomplishment. By the end of the week, you'll be surprised by just how many you have. After all, someone had to remember to put the bins out, right?

Number two mistake milestones each time you make a mistake like sending the wrong email or forgetting to do frost tonight's dinner pause and think what happened here how can i and how can i improve write down a lesson in a mistake milestone section of your notebook before you know it these stumbles become stepping stones number three accountability buddy unless the friend family member or even your pet goldfish though let's be

honest the goldfish might not be the most talkative check in regularly to discuss targets wins and mishaps trust me telling someone else you plan to do 20 push-ups a day makes you feel far less likely to skip it. For more steps or step-by-step guides on implementing these practices, be sure to read the extended blog post at nefewellness.com. We've got templates, prompts and even some more real-life examples to keep you inspired.

Post 6. Tease in next month's topic. Before we tackle our final segment, I've got a little teaser for you. Next month we'll be diving into the theme of self-love and growth.

We'll look at everything from mastering positive self-talk to create an atmosphere where personal growth is not just a goal but a lifestyle and yes we'll talk about how to keep loving yourself even if you can't keep a house plant alive or even if you've eaten the last donut in the box no judgment here I've done both so stay tuned for episode 21 and beyond because we'll be ramping up the conversations on all things self-care, self-improvement and my personal favourite self-compassion.

We've got some fun interviews lined up with surprise guests who share their own stories of growth in the future.

All right so then, common questions and a quick fire Q&A. All right let's talk about some quick questions I often hear about reflections confidence and personal growth number one why focus in small wins they seem trivial well the answer to this is trivial is underrated those tiny steps train your brain to see progress everywhere it's like building a confident snowball, start small and watch it grow. Number two, what if my January goals are huge and I completely fell off track?

Well, no worries. Break it into mini goals. Think of it like chopping a giant chocolate bar into bite-sized pieces. It's far less intimidating and just as sweet as when you succeed.

Number three, how do I stop beating myself up when I make mistakes or swap your perspective treat mistakes like teachers not tyrants ask what can I learn rather than declaring it as a personal feeling number four I don't have supportive friends or family where can I get help well you can look online you can get a life coach You can join communities on Facebook, Reddit or LinkedIn and if you fancy top-notch positivity, do drop by our Beyond a Doubt community and might be amazed by how quickly you

can connect with like-minded souls. Number five. Any daily habits that can boost my confidence long-term? Absolutely. Try journaling for five minutes at the end of each day. List your wins, lessons, and a simple gratitude note. Consistency is key here. And number six, I can't spot any wins for January at all. Well, my answer is really. Not even wearing socks that match most days.

Sometimes we overlook the small stuff if you generally can't find any note what went wrong and plan a fresh approach for february recognizing issues is the first step to meaningful change part eight summing up so we've reached the end of episode 20 folks remember january is only one chapter in your 12 part year whether it's been a page turner or one you'd rather rewrite every single moment can propel you forward if you let it so celebrate what deserves a

cheer even if it's as simple as not losing your keys learn from what went wrong like burnt sourdough or mislaid money envelopes and believe in your potential to make the rest of this year absolutely brilliant. Next month we'll dive into self-love and growth.

I can't wait to explore the ins and outs of this nurturing healthier relationship with yourself because that's where genuine confidence truly blossoms and don't forget to visit nephiwellness.com for the full blog post on today's topic plus loads of extra tips and resources if you found this episode helpful or mindly mildly mildly entertaining either is good please subscribe leave a review or share it with someone who might need a giggle and some guidance on building confidence

and as always I'm your host fe reminding you that confidence isn't built in a day it's constructed day by day win by win and laugh by laugh so until next time stay reflective stay resilient and above all stay confident bye.