Last year, I saw this journal at CVS. I never really had a journal like this and thought it would be helpful to keep track of life with questions like, “Good things about today?” or “How can I make tomorrow better?” It was great for a few days and then I put it aside and chugged along with my life.

While I was filling out the boxes with the answers to the questions, I felt more in control of my life – like I had a say in it. I was plotting a course to be mindful, disciplined and focused.

But, I stopped doing it.

Now I don’t know where the hell I’m at! Seriously. Not that I or anyone else needs a reflection journal to be okay with life, but I am so easily distracted from my goals and desires that having something tangible like this journal (fittingly called Make Yourself a Priority) keeps me accountable.

It might work for others and it might not. I need to implement more habits that lead to routines that benefit me, more than I allow distractions to take over my time, and then I’m like “How did an hour go by? What just happened?”

It’s funny, but it’s not.

I could say and write a lot of words but until there’s proof of how serious I am with my goals, I’m just a wisher.

Knowing where we’re at gives us a baseline on what’s important and how we can improve, achieve and attract all the wonderful things we deserve (and desire.)

We don’t need a pretty journal to do this. A simple note on a piece of paper will do that’s in our sight multiple times a day. A reminder on our phones to read a note we created is great too. All it takes to get moving in the direction we want is to pay attention, and reminders work great to keep us on track.

Hey, if you’re happy with your life and don’t feel the need to stretch or grow or evolve that’s fine. I’m writing this for people like me who are on a great quest to reach that dream life we can’t stop thinking about.

Being accountable to ourselves helps us achieve milestones, even the tiny ones are still progress.  It’s when we feel sorry for ourselves or complain about our lives that we’ve given up being responsible for our lives. If we hand over the reins to negative thinking and limitations, we aren’t moving forward. We’re stuck. I know this to be true because I’ve been stuck for years. It’s only now that I’m fighting for my life and putting in the effort to achieve greatness (what I deem as greatness.)

I want everyone to be happy. I know that’s a tall order, but I believe that with a little effort we can have a wonderful life. We can’t sit around and expect miracles to happen. Miracles happen when we give it a go and do something worthwhile to make our dreams come true.

We can still have the childlike wonder and dreams no matter what age, situation or history. We make the difference. Our dedication to ourselves makes the difference.

Ask yourself, “Where you at?” (I know it’s not proper grammar. I thought it sounded cool and went with it.) Are you happy? Are you doing what you love to do each day? Do you believe you’re living your best life, the one you chose?

Simple questions can offer important answers.

Thank you for reading this and I hope I’ve offered something of value that might help change the direction of your life.

To knowing where we’re at,

Francesca