“I can’t change the direction of the
wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” ~ Jimmy Dean
For most of us, January 1 is
like a clean slate, an opportunity to start over, and permission to try again. Oprah
Winfrey says it best, “Cheers to a new year and another chance to
get it right.” But as I wrote in last year’s blog, where we shoot
ourselves in the foot is by making resolutions instead of goals.
Why?
Resolutions are determined thoughts that weaken over the
months. They lose their freshness. Then life takes over and chokes our good
intentions for the remainder of the year and our gasping resolutions hold on to
enough life to make us feel guilty because we have failed—again.
Goals are the groundwork to a
plan. They give structure and support. How fast or slow the plan works doesn’t
change the goal. We just keep moving toward it, even if it isn’t accomplished
in a year.
What makes a strong goal? Here
are a few of my thoughts:
·
Goals should be purposeful. Think them through, design a step-by-step plan
and follow that plan. If we should stumble along the way, that doesn’t change
the goal. We get up, dust ourselves off and keep moving forward.
·
Goals should be realistic. In 2010 when I set my goal to lose weight, I
wanted to lose 50 pounds in three months, but that wasn’t going to happen and I
knew it. Actually, it took me a year to lose 30. The most important thing I had
to change was my mind and realize this goal could not be a temporary practice until
I lost my excess weight. It was something I had to do for the rest of my
earthly life! This year I have set my goal to exercise in order to strengthen
my body and make me more flexible. I’m also going to exercise my mind.
·
Goals should be multidimensional. We need to have “vision” for what these goals
will accomplish. When I set my goal to lose weight, I not only wanted to look
better, I also wanted to feel better. I wanted to have more stamina and be able
to keep up with my blossoming career as a writer and speaker. As I just
mentioned, 2012 will be a year to exercise my body through aerobics and weight
training, exercise my mind by reading and working some sort of word or number
puzzle, and exercise my spirit by meditation. We are all three-part beings. Why
not take care of our whole self?
·
Goals should dream big! I know I said to be realistic, and when it comes
to something that leans heavily on our personal responsibility, we should be
reasonable with ourselves. But, I also believe we should “dream” big and see
where life takes us. Imagine, ask “What if?” take risks. Have a big goal in
your heart’s pocket. You never know where it will lead you! As C.S. Lewis says,
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” And remember,
you do not have a 12-month time limit. Goals are set in place and will remain
until you reach them.
I’m sure there are more things that could be
added to this list and I’d like to hear from your thoughts.
I like to write down my goals.
There is just something about writing them down that really makes a difference.
I usually begin my year with writing a “workable” list of 5 things I’d like to
accomplish and one “dream big” goal. This year I want to:
·
Be flexible enough to do the splits. (I
was a gymnast in my younger days)
·
Finish the rewrite of my novel (This was
last year’s goal. However, once I started it has turned out to be an entirely
different story. So, you see, it is taking longer but that is okay. I’m moving
forward.
·
Write a devotional book
·
Increase my speaking and workshop
engagements on the East and West coasts.
·
Go to Europe
And my BIG DREAM, to have my
novel made into a movie.
What about you? Do you have
any goals to start in 2012? Notice I say start. They may not be finished in 2013.
That is the beauty of goals. They are there until we cross the finish line,
whatever the year. How we run the race—fast and determined, slow and steady, or
undisciplined and sporadic— is up to us.
May you have a successful and
fruitful 2012!
9 comments:
Hi Linda! I love this entire post. You've said it all so eloquently! I, too, am making my goals for 2012 and making them realistic. Let's check with each other in a couple of months and see how we're doing! Thanks much!
Linda, thanks for the good word for the New Year!
Linda, thanks for the good word for the New Year.
Linda, thank you for again distinguishing between resolutions and goals. Seems a person can have both. For instance, I resolve to smile more often and try to be more kind in the New Year. But, one of my measurable goals is to get 25-50 edited pages sent to my editor every two weeks.
Every year I say I'm going to keep a New Year's journal. You've inspired me to try it out in 2012.
Happy New Year, dear friend!
I will help you with your "resolution" and remind you to smile when you feel like choking someone. *giggle*
Linda I like your word, I do goals too. One of my goals this year is to keep my eye on my word of the year, adventure. Next year will be an adventure, for me in all aspects of my life. I will strive to accept the adventures that are presented rather than run the other way. Make sense? Nita
I love this: "How fast or slow the plan works doesn’t change the goal. We just keep moving toward it, even if it isn’t accomplished in a year." Thanks for the reminder of the difference between resolutions and goals. Blessings to you as you pursue your goals in 2012!
Hi Linda, I have gotten better at making plans to meet goals. You're right, resolutions just seem to dissolve over the course of time, but my goals come with plans that might have to be readjusted over time, but never lose sight of the goal. And I've found that even my goals need to be readjusted from time to time.
For 2012, one of my goals is to learn to speak with confidence. I've got your book on my Kindle to help me with planning that one :)
Good one! Try LOMISITY.com to exercise your mind
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