As We Bring 2014 to A Close... | Reflections

I spent Sunday night sipping on whiskey (a new experience) and redoing my vision board. My initial plan was to just update it, but I realized most of the pics & quotes were outdated and random (I had a pic of Andre 3000 on it and don't remember why lol). 

I can't believe how much clarity came from this simple project! I visualized the life I want for the new year and feel sooo confident that it will come true. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I can have the life that I want and deserve. My best life is right outside of my comfort zone.

I still can't believe the year is over. So many lessons learned and a few awesome milestones.

• We finally moved closer to DC (10-min drive, baby!)
• I workout nearly daily - even though it's usually a very light workout, I show up.
• I've been more courageous about my experiences and putting myself out there more

The new vision board is centered around my kids, upgrading my life physically, travel, gratitude, improving my diet and finally seeking help for my depression.

In January, I declared 2014 my year of uncomfortable and overall it was a success:

• Taught a meal planning class online
• Was more candid about my food struggles & depression
• Paid for biz coaching
• Met online friends in person (this used to scare the shit out of me)
• Shopped for makeup at Sephora & had an consultation
• Took a solo trip to NYC
• Raised the price of the guide and was more open about promoting my biz. 

Going forward into 2015, I will...

• Focus on more action and less thinking (I overanalyzed everything so I didn't get as much done this year)
• Take being uncomfortable to the next year...basically get comfortable being uncomfortable to stretch myself
• Self- care & gratitude over errthang!

As far as the Brown Vegan brand goes, I will be more visible in the new year. I will bring you consistent quality content, offer more products/services that will get you started on a long-term vegan journey, and make genuine connections with peeps in my community.

Most importantly, I will get out of my own way!

A vision board & goals are only as good as the action you take to move forward in your life.

Let's rock out 2015 together!

What were youR wins this year and how do you plan to step it up in 2015?

Have you ever made a vision board?

What's Up, 2014? Mid-Year Update

Do you remember your New Year's resolutions? It's okay if you don't because that was my life for many years.  I still have a lot of work to do, but I can see improvements in my life.

This post is inspired these...

2013 Lessons

What's Up, 2014?

*Have I been uncomfortable? Hell yeah! My theme for 2014 is get uncomfortable-say and do things that scare the shit out of me. I started a little journal earlier this year to track all of my uncomfortable antics. So far, I've launched a 30-Day Vegan Jump-start, paid a chunk of change for biz coaching, met some YouTube & blogging peeps in person (I usually avoid this type of stuff), posted some pics on Instagram without filter (it's silly to think that this is uncomfortable lol), talked about my products and services more, did 2 live Q&A calls with my audience and a slew of other things that I would have NEVER done before.

Lesson learned: For the rest of my life, I will always have a theme for the new year. It's so much easier than a long list of resolutions.

*I'm still a scaredy cat, but not nearly as much as I used to be. It's crazy how you go most of your life not caring much about what people think, only to let an online presence mess with you. I will continue to practice doing me.

*I will also continue to practice enjoying the journey. I tell myself often that I should stop worrying about not having enough disposable income to do some of the things I want our family to enjoy together. Even though there's not room for "extras," our life is very simple right now. Enjoy the journey, Monique! You will regret not doing that.

I think this quote is from Frank Ocean

*I really need to get back to shut up and work!  I've been talking way too much. I check in with my accountability partner once a week, but outside of that, I find myself yapping too much to Eric and my bestie about some of the things I want to do. It holds me back. I will practice silence and get the work done. Derek Sivers was right!

*Gratitude is a game-changer. When I get down about something I always go to my journal and reflect on things that are awesome in my life. It works every time.

Recipe here

*I love cooking for the parents! Often my days, weeks and months run together, so carving out time monthly to cook and chill with my parents is essential. I will definitely continue this ritual!

*Being a woman of my word is still a challenge. I know...I know. I just have a hard time saying "no" and then get mad at myself later for committing. I still need major help in this area. I will practice.

Have you kept up with your resolutions or are you starting a new set for the last half of the year? Leave a comment

2013 Lessons

I didn’t write a post like this last year. I just wanted 2012 to be over. I’m still going through some things, but I feel my outlook on life has improved so much in the last year. I’m really looking forward to what life will bring for our family.

Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned this year….

Shut up & work- I had (sometimes I’m still guilty of this) this really bad habit of talking about everything that I want to do. I craved validation from people in my life and had to tell them all of my goals and dreams. Earlier this year, I watched Derek Sivers TEDTalk about keeping your goals to yourself (Eric Thomas’s video also inspired me) and now I focus more on work than talking. There’s something about talking about what we’re going to do that tricks the brain into thinking it’s already been done.  I’m sure this isn’t true for all people, but it is for me. I've accepted that I just need to shut up and work. It’s actually very liberating!

Break Everything Down Into Baby Steps…that means EVERYTHING. There’s no way I could’ve finished the guide if I didn’t do this. I now plan everything in 90-day increments and break it down into small steps. I feel so much better with this system and don’t feel overwhelmed by HUGE goals. Baby steps are okay and the only way I can get anything done.

Be a woman of my word-I’m such a flake. It sucks but it’s something that I will definitely continue to work on. I don’t like that the people I love lose faith in me because I commit to something and don’t follow through. I will honor my commitments.

Enjoy the journey. I used to obsess about where I should be in life. I thought (and talked about) how I should have more money, more friends, more education…More. More. More. It’s exhausting and so counterproductive. I now focus on the journey. I journal, reflect and spend more time in the moment. It has taken a lot of time and patience to get to this point, but I’m feeling better about the journey every day.

I have NOTHING to lose-I’m such a scaredy cat. I worry too much about what people think of me. I hate that feeling and know that it's because I'm afraid my opinions and story will cause backlash.  My friend, Shonda put this on Instagram the other day…

I'm learning to work on this too.

My Vegan Story

Click to watch the video

I just felt like chatting and wanted to share why I became a vegan and some of my views on the lifestyle.

It was so fun filming this video, that I will definitely have more candid conversations with you in the new year.

Watch the full video below and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more vlogs and cooking videos.

Vegan Book & Documentary Suggestions

There's a ton of information out there with advice on how to embrace veganism and why it's so important for our health, the environment and for animals. I often get emails asking what books and documentaries helped me, so here's a quick list and a synopsis from Amazon.... 

 Skinny Bitch

I was a vegetarian for 2 years after reading this one-Lots of crude language but effective

From Amazon: 

"Not your typical boring diet book, this is a tart-tongued, no-holds-barred wakeup call to all women who want to be thin. With such blunt advice as, "Soda is liquid Satan" and "You are a total moron if you think the Atkins Diet will make you thin," it's a rallying cry for all savvy women to start eating healthy and looking radiant." 

Sistah Vegan

This book led me directly to vegan eating...a lot of stories from women who look like me-So refreshing and needed when I was getting started.

 From Amazon: 

"Sistah Vegan is a series of narratives, critical essays, poems, and reflections from a diverse community of North American black-identified vegans. Collectively, these activists are de-colonizing their bodies and minds via whole-foods veganism. By kicking junk-food habits, the more than thirty contributors all show the way toward longer, stronger, and healthier lives. "

Earthlings

-I looked away and cried while watching this documentary. It is by far the most graphic doc I've ever seen.

 From Amazon: 

"EARTHLINGS is a feature-length documentary about humankind's absolute economic dependence on animals raised as pets, food, clothing, entertainment and for scientific research. Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, EARTHLINGS chronicles the day-to-day practices at some of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit. "

Diet for A New America

- This book is helpful in explaining the environmental, animal rights and health benefits.

From Amazon: 

"Diet for a New America is a startling examination of the food we currently buy and eat in the United States, and the astounding moral, economic, and emotional price we pay for it. "

What books and documentaries helped you get started?

I'm blogging Mon-Fri this month for Vegan MoFo.