karavoli

I see it all over Youtube and Instagram. Almost everyone tells you to “lock in”. At first these two words seemed intriguing, and they sparked my curiosity. But the more I see videos like this, they’re just making me feel stressed. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Let me quickly explain the concept.

Mostly you start seeing videos like this in the middle of the year and they carry the titles like, “You still have six months to become the best version of yourself”, or “Only two months left to become “her”. And of course, the famous “lock in” videos. Locking in basically means staying focused on something and being consistent without distraction. I must admit that the message behind the videos is not only negative but the more I watch content like this, the more disconnected I feel.

I don’t want to hustle; I want to be present. I believe if you are too focused on the finish line, you don’t notice the little things around you. You stop checking in with yourself. Maybe you “lock in” for six weeks and then you realize that this goal that you are working towards is not as meaningful to you anymore. Or maybe you start a new habit and suddenly you don’t like the person that you’re becoming. These feelings and realizations can only come to you if you make space for them. That’s why reflection has become so important to me. Reflection doesn’t mean abandoning your goals and dreams. It means moving with purpose. For me, reflection and gratitude go hand in hand. Being grateful for what is already there instead of asking “What’s next?”. I read somewhere that locking in keeps your eyes on the finish line and gratitude helps you enjoy the steps. I really liked that, and I hope that whenever you feel discouraged or disconnected to your wishes and desires you remember to take a moment, breathe and ask yourself “Is this what I want?”.

Reflecting and being grateful takes a bit of time and practice. If you’d like a gentle way to start, I made a short PDF with three journaling questions to help you pause and reconnect with yourself.

I hope this post was helpful to you.

Warm wishes