Let's Talk About February

Last month I wrote about starting with your best moments in 2025. Today, we start the second month of 2026.

I hope that the first month went well for you. Do take the time to review and reflect on last month. I do think that given it's the first month of the year, you tend to remember how things feel as you proceed with the year. The way you began it and the things that happened can set the tone for the rest of the year, but you also have 11 months ahead to change the tone at any point if it's not going the way you want it to.

It's only the second month, my friends

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Take some time to review the goals you set at the start of the year. How are they going? Do you need to revise them or remove them? What new goals do you need to set, if any?

Here's something most people don't realize about goals: they're not meant to be set in stone. January's version of you had one perspective. February's version of you has lived through an entire month of experiences, challenges, and insights. You're allowed to adjust.

Becoming your own Chief Self Officer requires intentional planning for your goals as well as setting clear standards. Standards are the personal rules and boundaries you establish for yourself. They define what's acceptable and what's not in how you live, work, and interact with the world.

Think of it this way: in my 20 years of financial analysis experience, I've seen how companies set targets every year, then review them monthly against actual results. Those variances between what was planned and what actually happened need to be explained. They tell a story about what's working, what's not, and what needs to change. Your personal goals deserve the same level of attention. The people winning at life are doing exactly this. They just don't call it financial analysis.

The difference between people who achieve their goals and those who don't often comes down to this review process. It's not about perfection. It's about awareness. So let's talk about what this review actually looks like.

First, pull out those goals you set in January. Look at each one honestly. Did you make progress? Even small progress counts. Did you completely abandon one? That's information, not failure. Did you discover that a goal no longer excites you? That's growth, not weakness.

Some questions to ask yourself: Which goal felt energizing when you worked on it? Which one felt like a chore? Which goal surprised you with how difficult it was? Which one was easier than expected?

Now let's talk about your standards. Standards are your operating principles. They're the lines you draw about how you spend your time, who you spend it with, and what you're willing to tolerate. Maybe one of your standards is that you don't check work email after 7 PM. Maybe it's that you don't engage in gossip. Maybe it's that you show up on time to commitments. These standards protect your energy and your integrity. They're not about being rigid. They're about being intentional.

When your goals align with your standards, something magical happens. Progress feels natural instead of forced. Setbacks become learning opportunities instead of evidence of failure.

Here's what I want you to do this week. Set aside 30 minutes. Grab your journal, open a document, or just sit with a cup of coffee and think. Review your January. What worked? What didn't? What surprised you? Then look at your goals. Are they still yours, or are they someone else's expectations wearing your handwriting? Adjust them. It's February. You have permission. Finally, write down three standards that will guide you this month. Make them specific enough to be useful but flexible enough to be sustainable.

Remember, you're not trying to be perfect. You're trying to be intentional. You're not trying to do everything. You're trying to do the right things for you.

February is a short month, but it's mighty. It's the month where resolutions either stick or fade. It's where you prove to yourself that you're serious about this year, or you let it slip away like all the others.

But here's the secret: you don't need to be perfect in February to have an amazing year. You just need to be present. You need to be honest. You need to be willing to adjust your course when something isn't working.

You're the CSO of your life. That means you get to make the strategic decisions. You get to pivot when needed. You get to celebrate the wins and learn from the losses.

So as we move through February, remember this: every single day is a chance to recommit to yourself. Not to some impossible standard of perfection, but to the ongoing practice of showing up for your own life with intention and care.

The year is still new. Your best moments are still ahead of you. And you have everything you need to create them.

What will you choose to focus on this month?

Wishing you peace and happiness from my heart to yours!

Peace

Monita