It's a staggering statistic that four in five people break their New Year's resolution by the end of January.
This year, instead of a New Year's resolution, spend time mapping out a 'living plan,' a set of goals you will review regularly throughout the year and track your progress.
Take time out - proper planning takes time, so allow yourself space to still your mind as you dream of possibilities and define your goals. You don't need to meet the arbitrary deadline of midnight on 31 December.
Find your 'green cathedral' (see issue 7) - this is a haven to which we can withdraw regularly for time out for reassessment.
Identify your 'living branches' - if you were a tree, what would the branches be?
Mine include business interests, family & friends, faith, financial stewardship, interests and wellbeing. Use these as a guide - yours may differ slightly.
Ponder each branch in turn and picture how each area could change for the better. How can you more positively impact the lives of others? You may need to devote a few sessions to this process.
Know the definition of a goal, then set some - I agree with Harvey Mackay that a goal is 'a dream with a plan and a deadline.'
In setting goals for each living branch try the steps: dream, reward, plan, deadline. For example:
Dream: Get fitter
Reward: increased alertness, better body tone and improved health
Plan: bike 30 minutes 3 times per week, walk to work, eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, etc
Deadline: waistline reduced 2" by 30 June 2011.
Review your pre-existing vision and goals - and remember that delays are not necessary denials.
Think how you'll live - and not only about goals towards which you'll work: I aim to live with passion, power and purpose (power in the sense of 'from On High,' not control!) and I have a few specifics under each of these.
Visibility - To help you avoid the fate of New Year's dreamers (Harvey Mackay also said a 'dream is just a dream'), condense your goals onto one or two sides of paper and keep them visible at all times.
Enter in your diary/outlook calendar at the end of month: Review my goals! Better still, ask your partner or confidant to review them with you.
I'll conclude with the tree metaphor: have you considered what - or Who - your roots of inspiration and empowerment are tapped into?
