March 4th

March Fourth happens to be one of my most favorite days of the year. I’ve always thought it should be named “Inspiration Day.” March Fourth is an action day. If you say it out loud… “march forth” you will hear the declaration. March Fourth is a day dedicated to working towards your goals, whatever they may be. It’s a day to “March Forth” and do something— something you’ve always wanted to do or something that you know needs to be done. Refocus on your goals, take a big (or small) risk, and celebrate everything you’ve already accomplished to make the most of this unique holiday.

If you have never perceived March Fourth as an important day to mark on your calendar, it is my hope that after this handy guide, you will look forward to March Fourth like I do each year. 

Here are some steps to keep in mind on this 

1 ) Spend time today assessing your Bigger Life Goals. 

March Fourth is a great time to think about the big dreams you have in life—the things you want to “march forth” and accomplish. 

Think about broad dreams or ambitions you have, like moving to a new home, making a career shift, improving a relationship, or getting serious about your health. 

Set aside some quiet time to sit and think about what you want your life to look like in a couple of months and in a couple of years. What big picture goals do you want to accomplish?

2 ) Chunk those dreams, goals into smaller, achievable steps. 

Gaining the courage and energy to go for your most heartfelt goals can, at times, feel overwhelming. Without a plan, support and strategy, your dreams can barely get off the ground. Our advice is to break down your big ambitions into smaller, less intimidating goals. Make these goals very specific, and set a deadline for each one. 

For example, if your big goal is to run a marathon at the end of the year, step 1 could be as small as finding a training plan. Step 2 could be to start by running just 15 minutes a day for three days a week, and step 3 could be to increase by 5 minutes after the first two weeks. Remember to celebrate your wins. Each small win adds to the ultimate big win. 

3 ) Remind yourself why these goals are important to you.

With the demands of our daily lives, maintaining the connection to the overall goals and dreams we would most want to achieve can slip by the wayside. If you’re serious about achieving your goals, you probably have serious reasons for doing so. Clarify those reasons, write them down, and let them fuel you. Read your goals daily, put them in front of you on a vision board, on a posit hanging on your rearview, or you can take my lead and record yourself saying your goals and the reasons why you want to achieve them. Listening to your own voice brings power and belief. Hearing your own voice also rewires your subconscious mind for achievement and confidence. When your motivation starts to lag, dipping into this sense of purpose and desire will help renew your drive. 

4 ) Challenge yourself to do 1-2 small things that you wouldn’t normally do. You’ll be amazed at what you can do when you train yourself to be OK with discomfort, and March Fourth is the perfect day to start! Today, do 1-2 small activities that you’d normally feel uncomfortable doing. Then, challenge yourself to do the same thing the next day and the next. The greater we push out of our comfort zone, the more resourceful and self-confident we will become. Exploring your own strength allows that newness to fuel your big dreams even more. 

5 ) Visualize yourself succeeding and feeling great. It’s normal to feel nervous when you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone. Take a few deep breaths and picture a positive outcome that could come from challenging yourself like this to calm yourself. Imagine how good you’ll feel and allow that positivity to fill you up, giving you the confidence to go for it.

Repeat affirming mantras to yourself, “I’ve got this!”, “This goal is as good as done!” 

6 ) Track your progress. Tracking your progress helps you stay motivated and on track to hit your segmented goals. One thing we say around the Bonfire is that “Progress is progress.” We do not judge small steps of progress vs. larger steps. Measuring your progress is needed to stay connected to your bigger vision. Finding a way to do this can be more difficult for some goals than others, but the main objective is to be able to watch your progress as it happens, be proud of yourself for staying on top of things, and know when it’s time to work a little harder. 

7 ) Focus on your growth instead of the discomfort. You’re not stepping outside of your comfort zone just to torture yourself—you’re doing it to learn and grow. When you start to feel awkward, nervous, or uncomfortable, just remember your end goal. You’re working to become brave and confident in yourself, and that will be more than worth a few moments of discomfort.

8 ) Put on the Warrior version of yourself to find extra needed passion and strength. One powerful tool we use at Bonfire is called “Embody Your Warrior.” There is an alter ego, a powerful badass version of yourself you can imagine. When I need an extra boost or fuel to fight off that inner saboteur dialogue, I step into my warrior and take action. Over time, the energy of your warrior becomes the real you. Your dreams and goals are as good as achieved! 

9 ) Set aside time to celebrate in whatever way you want. March Fourth isn’t just about challenging yourself and setting new goals—it’s also about appreciating yourself for the things you’ve already accomplished. Give yourself some time at the end of the day to celebrate what you’ve done this year, in whatever way feels most special to you. Rewarding yourself like this will refresh your energy and motivate you to seek new challenges. Every day there will be a reason to celebrate.

I celebrate by high-fiving myself, doing a little happy dance, treating myself to something nice, or looking in the mirror and saying, “You are a badass! You rock!” 

10) Embrace the power of Appreciation! Acknowledge and thank anyone who helped you along the way. Chances are, you wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what you did without some help along the way. Invite over the people who helped you for a joint celebration, give them a call to thank them, or simply send a heartfelt text. Let them know that you appreciate their help and couldn’t have done it without them.

Enjoy the energy of March Fourth! It is here to remind you that. “You’ve got this!”. 

The Bonfire team of awesome badass coaches and I are here for you always! March Fourth into your new life, a new career and reenergized business.