If you’re like me, the journey of spiritual growth and personal development can be rocky and rife with ups and downs. Just when you feel like you’re making progress you find you are your own worst enemy.

Indeed, no one and nothing interferes with my progress more than me, myself and I!

And then I spend a whole day just wandering around the proverbial wilderness of distraction, procrastination and time-consuming trivia.

Yesterday, I may have been all on top of my goals and aspirations, but today I can’t seem to even remember what my goals are, wasting time and beating myself up with guilt and regret.

But I found something that works quickly to get back on track, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

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1. What is Your Track?

Since your Purpose is the driving force behind your actions and decisions, it works to take a moment to reconnect with what your Purpose is. What is the REASON behind your goals?

Years ago, I realized wanted to write about a powerful message. But then came the gremlins of doubt, fear and stress: Am I good enough, smart enough, disciplined enough, to carry out a vision of success?

I remember distinctly getting a very clear message from Source/Spirit/Higher Self telling me: IF YOU’RE GOING TO STRESS ABOUT IT, DON’T EVEN BOTHER.

Eventually the reason became clear: if I could not practice the principles of the message itself, I would not be able to relay it to others. I had to find my center of Calm Confidence, the energy that allowed the message to flow from Source through me, sans the gremlins.

Consider what your “track” is…

  • What is the “why” behind your goals. Revisit your goals and ask yourself why these goals are important and how they align with your values and passion.
  • Visualize your ideal life and how you really want to spend your time. Doing the work you choose to do is a part of your perfect day.
  • Creating a Vision Board can be a powerful tool to help you reconnect with your dreams and aspirations. Fill a large poster board with pictures, quotes and symbols that represent what you want to include in your life, the goals you want to achieve and the Purpose behind them.

Your Purpose is your “track” so getting back on it isn’t difficult, it just requires remembering why you got on that track in the first place. If your Guidance guided you there, It will gently guide you back.

2. Your Ku Loves a Plan, Your Lono Provides One

Your “ku” is about Power. It’s that part of you that is the feminine/emotional/feeling/child-self part of you that, just like children, need structure to feel safe and secure. Kids will expend tons of energy (power) running around in every direction and end up lashing out in anger, frustration and overwhelm without structure and boundaries to rein them in.

This is where the adult part of you, your ‘lono’ the masculine/logical/thinking/doing part comes in. Lono is about Direction. It’s that part of you that’s all about structure, boundaries, goals, lists, rules, schedules, etc. Your lono is about doing and provides a logical plan-of-action.

Lono provides the Direction: goals, plans, action.

Ku provides the Power: energy, enthusiasm, passion.

That’s why goals that are too vague, general or overly ambitious lead to confusion, distraction and procrastination. If your ku can’t get behind the plan, it just won’t move no matter what systems you have in place.

Here’s a SMART approach to setting achievable goals:

  • Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve. Instead of “I want to be healthier” say, “I will exercise for 30 minutes five times a week.”
  • Measurable: Have a clear way to measure your progress. For instance, you could track your progress in a journal or app.
  • Attainable: Set goals that are challenging yet realistic. If you are aiming to run a marathon in a month, maybe start with a 5k instead.
  • Relevant: Your goals should align with your purpose and values. Make sure your goals support a lifestyle that includes what’s important to you.
  • Time-bound: Setting a deadline for your goal helps you stay focused. “I want to run a 5k in three months” for example.

When your ku is excited about the plan, it will throw its power and enthusiasm behind it.

3. Help From Kane and Wahine

I struggled a lot between ambitious goals on the one hand, and the self-image of someone who could achieve those goals on the other.

I had to find a way to get my ku onboard with my plans but until I could do that, I was left with a seemingly impossible battle of changing myself.

My ku was excited about my goals but not excited about learning all the things I needed to learn in order to accomplish them.

Ku by the way, is also the place that stores all of your fears, trepidations, reluctance and hesitation. Everything that has ever happened to you in the past is carried into the present via your ku. This is why we say we are our own worst enemy, every time we failed, got hurt, or felt pain, your ku remembers and resists anything resembling those scenarios. Modern self-help calls those “limiting beliefs.”

Spiritual growth and personal development is about healing and overcoming past wounds in order to move forward. Inspired goals and plans are the blueprint for doing just that.

AWARENESS is half the battle. Becoming aware of your limiting beliefs buried in your ku gives you the means to counter them.

Prayer (asking Source) for help and guidance is the link that fills in the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Meditation provides the space for those things to come to the surface.  

In Huna, the part of you that is connected to Source is also a masculine/feminine dyad. Kane (kah-nay) is Divine Father and Wahine (wah-hee-ney) is Divine Mother, together they represent our inner “Divinity”.

Learning, changing and growing is a process but there is a LOT of help from Source/Inner Being.

When I heard the message to not stress, I asked, “Well, how do I do that?” When you ask a question, you become peaked for an answer. And the answers will stand out, almost like neon flashing signs.

I saw this story about Diane Niad, the woman who swam the Straights of Florida from Cuba to Key West at the age of 64, she said her motto became, “Find a way.” That really resonated with me.

Whenever I felt like I was pushing a boulder up a hill, this statement opened up POSSIBILITY. Anything is achievable if you just find a way, like how Diane found a way to do the seemingly impossible.

Another one was an affirmation, “Everything works out perfectly for me.”

Another one that helped tremendously was from my writing guru Ayo’s blog, “Develop the skill”.

Find those little blurbs that resonate with you and turn them into affirmations that provide quick back-on-track motivation. Read and/or repeat them often.

That resonated with me because one of the biggest obstacles to achieving my goals was my lack of expertise in many areas like learning how to write an article in one day instead of two weeks, for example. My ku was like, “Wait, all I have to do is develop the skill, and then I can do it?!”

It seems obvious but sometimes it’s those obvious things that resonate in just the right way to create a mini breakthrough.

“Do different things. Do things differently”

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Kane/Wahine (God, Source, Infinite Intelligence) has the ability to put in your path exactly the right custom designed Guide Posts just for you to get you back On Track with enthusiasm AND direction.

4. Ku Loves Routine, Lono Loves Getting Stuff Done

Ku loves the structure of a routine because it’s comfortable and predictable. Lono loves it because it leads to rhythm, momentum, and ease of habit that gets stuff done.

The Morning Routine is tantamount to getting ku on board with the day’s tasks, and more importantly, keeping you On Track towards your goals.

Whether it’s coffee and a book (my fav), a walk with inspiration in your headphones, exercise or yoga, some prayer and meditation; think about how you can start your day in a way that gets your ku activated with motivation.

It also works to review your goals for the day in a way that keeps ku motivated. Just like children, bite-size pieces and little rewards work great.

At the end of the day, be sure to congratulate yourself and bask in the feeling of accomplishment to take advantage of momentum and stay On Track.

Some tips to help you develop a consistent routine…

  • Start Small: Begin by incorporating small changes into your daily routine. For example, if you want to read more, try starting with 10 minutes of reading before bed.
  • Prioritize Your Tasks: Identify the most important tasks that align with your goals and prioritize them in your daily routine. Use tools like planners or digital calendars.
  • Create Rituals: Rituals add a sense of significance to your routine. A morning ritual of meditation, journaling and stretching sets a positive tone and balances lono and ku energy.
  • Be Flexible: Consistency is important but it’s also crucial to remain flexible. Life can be unpredictable and being adaptable will help you stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.  

Conventional wisdom says that “discipline” is about doing the things you need to do whether you feel like it or not. That just never worked for me.

But you can always change how you feel and get back On Track. If you find your ku preventing you from focusing on what you want to do, use these techniques to get lono-ku back into balance, and you, back On Track.

5. Cultivate the Mindset

“Mindset” is conventional wisdom’s term for ‘ku’, but ku involves more than just mindset.

Ku is the energy behind the thoughts you think. Ku wants to be acknowledged so become aware of how you’re feeling and just acknowledge those feelings and why you have them. Allow your lono to address and talk out with yourself those feelings to calm any fear and hesitation.

You’ve heard the phrase, “Be your own best friend?” This is how. Your lono’s logic can soothe your ku’s apprehensions and that balance will bring focus, motivation and resilience.

Ways to keep a good lono-ku balance:

  • Practice Gratitude: The energy of Gratitude shifts the focus from what’s going wrong to what’s going right. Use a Gratitude Journal to write down at least three things you’re grateful for each day.
  • Use Affirmations: These powerful statements provide your lono with tools to get your ku motivated. Write down on a piece of paper or index card and repeat things like, “I am capable of achieving my goals and so excited I’m achieving them!” or “I embrace challenges and opportunities to be the me I want to be!” Choose ones that truly excite you as the big emotion  is what does the heavy lifting in terms of creating the change you want.
  • Surround Yourself with Positivity: Spend time with people who inspire and uplift you. Avoid negative influences that drain your energy and undermine your confidence.
  • Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices help you stay present and reduce stress. Just a few minutes of mindfulness and meditation each day can drastically improve your mental well-being and clarity.

5. Support and Accountability

You don’t have to go it alone. Finding support and accountability can provide encouragement and motivation.

Tips for Seeking Support and Accountability:

  • Find a Mentor or Coach: They can offer guidance, share their experiences and provide valuable insights to help you stay On Track.
  • Join a Community: Whether it’s an online group or a local club, being part of a community of like-minded people can provide support, inspiration and accountability.
  • Share Your Goals: Confide your goals with a trusted friend or family member to hold you accountable. Regular check-ins can help you stay focused and motivated.
  • Participate in Challenges: Joining a challenge or competition related to your goals can add an element of fun and motivation. Whether it’s fitness, reading or productivity, these challenges can help you stay engaged and committed.

Conclusion

We all get off track from time to time, but it doesn’t have to derail progress. By reconnecting with your purpose, setting goals and routines and using your lono to keep your ku enthusiastic and motivated, you can get back on track with ease, flow and success.

Once you have momentum, it gets easier and the next thing you know, you’ve nailed it! You knocked that goal out of the park and now on to the next one.

It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. Take one step at a time and soon you’ll find you ARE the person you aspired to be, moving forward with energy and confidence.

Aloha!