Your Zen minute: It feels bad when you think you’re doing something wrong or feel like you haven’t succeeded. (And maybe you haven’t.) But it doesn’t have to — you can mindfully detach and look at that bad feeling as less of a consequence and more of a signal. What’s it telling you to change? And will you listen?

Now it’s time to check in on your progress: How is your vision board coming? As we mentioned last week, this may not be comfortable for you, but real change is generally not comfortable. As you looked back through your last year’s journey, I’m willing to bet it wasn’t a complete walk in the park. The key is to keep your focus on the desired result.

If creating a full vision board is a bit daunting, try cutting out one key word or picture and placing it, along with a picture of yourself, in a spot where you will see it often. Start small, but the key thing is to start. Your mind responds first and most strongly to visual stimulation. The picture and word serve as a powerful reminder to keep reaching for your goal.

Digital prompts work too! Set a reminder on your phone to look at your word or image, or make the reminder your background wallpaper.

And if any of the words or images you’ve selected ever just don’t feel right, change them until they connect with you again.

The inner satisfaction you will feel when you reach your goal will be worth the work. It’s about stepping through this with a mindful focus — a focus that does not judge, but one that is honest and calming.

If you do these exercises, we would love to hear how they went at shorelines@northshorebank.com. Thanks for reading! —Pat Ingelse, AVP, PMP