Bring it on!

I know that at the beginning of every year we are somehow compelled to review the year before and make plans for the new year. We are familiar with the the phrase 'New Years Resolutions' but after a recent presentation on goal setting - I was approached by several women that don't set goals at all. I was surprised and alittle taken aback because I had thought that everyone goes through this annual ritual... then I thought about these people, like many that I am surrounded by and I know these people have ambition, vision, drive, motivation and the tenacity to move towards something that they want. It may not be called a goals but it certainly is direction.

Whatever it is called in your world - here is what I know about goals....

A life time of practise
Goal setting is something that I have done since a child. This was encouraged in my home where my mother had us setting goals for ourselves every year, for school, for church, and for sports and for family goals.... She led by example by setting her personal goals for us children which was to see her children active in our faith and to be temple patrons. As we work towards achieving these ourselves - her example always enlightens the way for her children and her grandchildren. If goal setting is new for you - start today by making the decision to stop doing something that you shouldn't be doing and never repeat it... and add to that something that you want to start doing - and start today. Write it down and check on your progress daily, weekly, fortnightly. It doesn't matter as long as you keep checking... Turn goal setting into a habit and you will achieve things that you would not have not thought possible...

All of you
There was something I read and it made such an impression that it formed the way I viewed goal setting for myself since that time. The programme was about encouraging people to be well rounded culturally, spiritually, emotionally, physically and educationally. This probably resonated with me as it again was something that our mother ensured that I lived by having learnt an instrument, played team sports all the way through school, in a performing arts group and then doing my school work so that I could to get to university... So every year since then - and with interesting results ;-) our little family, small as it is, sets goals under the following three headings: education, physical, spritually and without naming it have goals that touch on emotions and culture.

Be Smart
Goals are not meant to be stressful but should be always achievable! So be smart when setting them, not too easy that you don't have to try, and not hard enough that you will need to win lotto to afford it, or die trying to achieve it.

Be realistic
Set goals that are realistic to you and keep it all about yourself. I always set goals around things that I need to improve, my work performance, how I treat others etc. Every year there is something included about the most important role that I will ever play in this life - being a mother.  So for 2011 - this goal is simple - to always remember that my job is just a job! It is not my life, it is not a child, and although sometimes rewarding it is just a job. Instead of putting things down like - to be a better mother I am going to say 'no' more to work and 'yes' more to my sons and husband... After 16 years - I finally got real about how I am going to achieve my ultimate goal of being a mother - it took a while but I am going to get there!

4 Step Process
I found a simple formula for goal setting that I presented that may help.... 1) Review: review where you are and where you want to go - write it down, 2) Plan: how are you going to achieve these goals, what are the short term goals that will help you achieve your long term ones - write this information down, 3) Act: get moving on them - write them up, put them up, display them, email them, and then do it! 4) Report: report back to the family, report back into your journal - reward where you achieve and re-evaluate where you need to improve...

The best two quotes - and there are so many to do with goal setting was by Jeffrey R. Holland " The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn... then we look ahead. Faith always points toward the future" and secondly, "God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and with His help where you are willing to go"

So whatever works for you, set those goals (or whatever you want to call them), write them up, display them somewhere that you will see them every day and remember one thing; with God - nothing is impossible!

Bring it on 2011!

Mxox