Goal setting is the navigator toward significant achievements in life. As we organize our goals, the urge to accomplish them quickly and easily could be tempting. Impatience and restlessness become the inner nemesis that blinds us from discerning our present accomplishments. But think about where you were five years ago: would you be able to be where you are now without your "little" and "trivial" accumulated effort?

In the ninth episode of Returning Home, Elise delves into the concept of compound effect and how it manifests in life. She guides you through exercises that will help you look back, reflect, and start taking inspired action for your future self. Through this, you'll be able to get in touch with yourself and why you're enough. She reiterates the importance of being gentle with yourself and giving yourself credit.

If you want to learn how the compound effect works in your life, then this episode is for you!

Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:

1. Learn the concept of the compound effect.
2. Discover why it's critical to recognize and acknowledge that you're enough.
3. Connect with your past and future self.

Resources

• Listen to previous episodes of Returning Home:
• Episode 1 | Returning Home to Yourself From Childhood Trauma
• Episode 7 | Finding Your Truth: The Healing of Your Inner Child
• StairMaster®
• Slow Down To Speed Up: Visualization Masterclass
• Sign up for Elise's Newsletter and receive a FREE PDF to start your self-compassion journey!
• Connect with Elise on Instagram: @elisekindya

Episode Highlights [03:55] Compound Effect

• Small actions, if done consistently, create huge results.
• We often get caught up in wanting to make a big change and seeing results instantly.
• The compound effect revolves around consistency and intentionality.
• Our life is the destination we're trying to seek. It's the small everyday actions and attitudes that we hold.

Elise: "Your mind, the way that you think, the way you see the world, the glasses that you put on, and that's how you see the world — your perspective — that is the journey and the destination."

[05:50] On Transformation

• There is no transformation waiting for your future self. What you need is a transformation in your perspective of yourself.
• Understand that you are already enough.

Elise: "Taking small steps every day in the direction of your dreams is what is going to make the difference between success and prolonging your success."

• You're already a success because you're living and breathing on this planet.

[07:34] The Result of the Compound Effect

• The compound effect is what got you to where you are today, regardless of your intention and thoughts.
• It's not thinking about a future goal or a quantum leap you want to make; it's about where you already are.
• Look back on the goals you've had over the last five years. You have the result of the compound effect right now working in your life.

[09:41] Giving Yourself Appreciation and Acknowledgment

• Acknowledge and come to peace with the fact that we will all die one day.
• Your present moment is the only moment that will be.
• Appreciate yourself for all you've accomplished and achieved, including getting through each day living.

Elise: "You're gonna have good days, and you're gonna have bad days. Life is 50% positive, and it's 50% negative — plus or minus based on whether you're a pessimist or an optimist, and it's really not a judgment on that."

• Both pain and pleasure are inevitable in this lifetime. They're available depending on your level of trauma.

[11:43] Getting in Touch with Happiness

• Having chemical or hormonal imbalance conditions makes it difficult to feel happy and optimistic.
• There are evidence-based practices that can help you get in touch with your happiness.
• We have an individual power to make our lives what we want them to be.

[13:14] The Piece of the Puzzle

• We are part of a larger system.
• There are a lot of personal and societal issues that play a role in our mental health condition.
• We can't separate ourselves from the puzzle of society. We are an individual piece that is part of the whole.

[15:01] The Process of Individuation

• We have an individual right to sovereignty, power to affect change, and the ability to look back and reflect.
• Looking back in the past allows you to take the next step towards your goal or start a new phase.

Elise: "We are on this journey of life, and each step that you take on the journey is part of you reaching your destination."

• Deciding to be the type of person you want to be is reaching the end goal you want to be at.
• The present moment is a gift. Your values and aspirations get to be part of this gift.
• There is a reason why and how you've reached the place you're at. There were steps, processes, and events behind it.

[18:02] See Your Future Self: Being in Your Old Age Exercise

• Picture your future self at 90 years old: what goals would you have wanted to achieve?
• What would you like your future self to be savoring at that time? What kind of memories and experiences would you like to have built up?
• Listen to the episode if you want to learn more about the reflections you need to incorporate for the exercise.

[19:48] Start Today

• Starting today, you can live the version of yourself that you'd desire in the next decades.
• Identify the steps you can take to get started on both far-off and short-term goals.
• "Goals" can refer to the quality of life you want or the type of person you want to be.
• Think about how you can continue recognizing that the compound effect that has worked in your life will continue to work.
• You can live the life you want to have; you are already doing it every day.

[21:19] You're Doing Enough

• You already incorporate your values into your day-to-day life.
• You can invite more in from a place of excitement and abundance.
• You cannot give from an empty cup and expect to feel joy about it.
• Recognize that what you already have is enough. Find a way to believe it if you don't.
• Don't settle; your life will become enough as you intentionally build it to be that way.

[23:38] Returning Home to Yourself

• Would the version of yourself five years ago be happy with where you are today? Tune in to the full episode to hear Elise's answer!
• Blurring out what happened in between the result can help you get in touch with your past self.
• Don't be afraid of the inner work. It transforms in a way that's beautiful, authentic, purposeful, and intentional.
• Returning home to yourself is a transformation you need to make.

[27:00] Key Takeaways

• Be gentle with yourself and give yourself the credit you deserve. Commit to living in accordance with your values.
• Accumulate inspired action. Then, it will lead to the compound effect.
• Know where you're going even if you don't have the entire map.
• You can make quantum leaps by recognizing and claiming your desires, searching and recognizing opportunities, taking action, and celebrating.
• See the little moments in your life as an opportunity to celebrate your power to design your life.

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