Kimberly Frey Consulting

At the beginning of 2022, I wrote about the practice of setting an intention for your year versus resolutions. In the original post, which you can read here, I wrote about two major difficulties with resolutions. First, they are usually focused on personal lack – figuring out what is missing in your life or what you want to improve. Second, they are grounded in your achievements, so when you don’t accomplish the goal then it can have a negative impact on your emotions and sense of well-being. I then shared how setting an intention on which to focus is a way to practice self-care and build a loving foundation for the rest of your year.

In 2022, my intention was “Be.” I was at a stage in my life where taking time to be in the moment, allowing things to be, and practicing more acceptance was important. Last year, my intention was “Focus.” I was in the process of transitioning from a decades long career as an educator into being a full-time coach and consultant, and I needed to be focused on all the details involved in making that happen. For 2024, my intention is “Grind” – as in time to rise and grind.

The word grind has several original definitions, all related to reducing or crushing something through the force of friction, rubbing things together; operating a machine of some kind by turning a handle; or my personal favorite: “work with a crushing action.” (Google English Dictionary provided by Oxford Languages). Looking at those definitions, it’s easy to see how the word has evolved over time to Urban Dictionary’s definition, “when you work your tail off to get stuff done.” The original definition has been edited slightly for content purposes, but you get the idea….

Because I was able to “Be” and “Focus” over the last couple of years, I have been able to make that jump from working for someone else to working for myself. I am so excited about the opportunity to “Grind” while I share with others, learn with them, and hopefully make the world a better place along the way. Because I am such a firm believer in setting intentions and building foundations for future success, I want to invite you to join me for my first class of the new year, Adulting 101. This course has been described as, “an 8-week ride for young pros, recent grads, and college students,” and is all about helping you build your own foundation for future success. In the course, we will learn about what executive functioning skills are and harnessing their power, developing a mindset that will help you propel forward, and strengthening relationship, communication, and workplace skills. Classes are kept small to facilitate authentic engagement and are available both in-person and online. With several promotions that are currently running along with flexible payment options, it’s a win-win way to invest in yourself for about $1/day! Visit my website for more information about the class itself and to register. Also, please post your personal intentions for 2024 in the comments below. I can’t wait to read them!