I thought it only fitting to focus on goal setting as we wrap up the year. Yes, you know all about it and you've even tried it year after year—resolutions. But have they ever worked for you? Many of us find ourselves at the crossroads of reflection and anticipation as we close the year embracing the fact that the end of the year provides us with the perfect time to embrace the power of goal setting. Setting goals and making resolutions are powerful ways to turn your dreams into reality.
So how do we craft meaningful goals and make resolutions that pave the way for personal growth, achievement and a fulfilling journey ahead?
The first thing is to understand the difference between goals and resolutions. What? You thought they were the same? Think of goals as the destination and resolutions as the journey. Goals are like destinations on our life's map. They provide a clear direction and purpose, helping us to channel our efforts towards specific achievements. Whether its a career milestone, fitness target or personal development target, goals give our aspirations a tangible form.
Resolutions on the other hand, are the journey itself. They are commitments and intentions that guide our daily choices. Resolutions often involve lifestyle changes, habits and mindset shifts, making them building blocks that lead us towards our goal. It took me a while to align the two. It was only after I saw how goals and resolutions intersect was I able to see the outcomes I wanted. I haven't looked back since!
The second is to craft effective goals and the third step in crafting meaningful goals and making resolutions is to sustain the journey (this is the part where most of us usually lose steam).
Let's look at the second step. Regardless of what field you're in, by now you would have heard of SMART objectives: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. Breaking your goals down into these components ensures that they are well-defined, trackable, and realistic. You can do this by chunking (breaking them down into smaller, manageable tasks) and visualizing (creating a mental image of achieving your goals).
Now for sustaining the journey—the resolutions. How about trying these techniques:
1) Engaging in Mindful and deliberate Intentions.
Rather than the generic resolutions, focus on what feelings, experiences, or personal growth you want to achieve through out the year? Okay, you been doing this for years and it still hasn't worked. Have you tried
2) Shifting the focus from end goals to the process itself?
Embrace the journey, relish in the small victories and learn from challenges. It seems easy enough, but I guarantee, this is one of the most overlooked and challenging steps.
You're going to wonder why you never thought of the third step.
3) Quality over quantity.
Consider setting fewer, more meaningful goals. In this way, you'll have a greater likelihood of success and the added bonus of deeper commitment.
I invite you to embrace a more dynamic and personalized approach to reimagining goal setting and bidding farewell to traditional resolutions. Don't forget to celebrate the small wins, no matter how minor! Let the new year be a transformative journey where each goal is a stepping stone to the life you want.
Copyright © 2023 Lana.S
Comments
Post a Comment