Area #7: Career Goals - There is a difference between a job and a career. If you are one of the few who truly are passionate about what you do...celebrate that. If you are someone who is not passionate about what you do, explore ways of incorporating that passion into your current job to increase your satisfaction. For instance, let's say you like to organize events. Your place of employment may allow you to organize a fundraiser to help out a local charity, one that is special to you or to someone in the organization. Analyze how you can take advantage of new technology to be better at your occupation. Would going back to school help you advance your career in a direction that is desirable to you? Create opportunities to network with people who can help strengthen some of your weaknesses. Find a mentor who is doing what you want to do.....connect and learn from them.
Imagine yourself 3 or 5 or 10 years from now. Where do you want to be with your career? Develop a path to get there.
Area #8: Financial Goals - Here we want to think about income, savings & investments, retirement and estate planning. Define your income goal for this year, next year and five years from now. Design a plan to get there. Talk to some experts. Explore other talents you have that could possibly add to your existing income. Many small businesses started out as a hobby or part-time job for someone. With regard to savings and investments, are you in a 401(k) or work savings plan if you are currently working? Define what you currently have in your emergency fund or college education fund. Examine your current budget (do you have one?). Examine your tax structure with an expert. Even children can learn how to have financial goals. They can take 20% of their allowance and learn what it means to "save" it. Show them how the money is growing. Discuss with them their success when they have saved up for something and were actually able to walk in and buy it themselves. Celebrate that accomplishment with them. For retirement, look at what lifestyle you want when you retire and what age is desirable. Your estate should be in order as well with regards to a will, life insurance for those left behind and oddly enough, think about what you want to be remembered for.......do you currently demonstrate those qualities to deserve that recognition? If not, make some changes.....
Area #9: Household Goals - Take a look at the possessions you have such as a car and/or your apartment or home. Define what your ideal is and what strides you are taking to achieve that. Describe what steps you can take to make each of these items safer, more efficient or even simplified if you feel overwhelmed. Protection against theft or fire should be checked. Possibly better locks on your doors or a security system would need to be installed to protect loved ones; or an escape plan for you and those living with you, should a fire occur. Making your home a place of sanctuary and peace (yes, it can be done...even with kids) can be key to your outlook and perspective on life.
Area#10: Spiritual Goals - Examine both your inner as well as your outer spiritual growth. Describe what peace looks like to you and how you can build more spiritual connections in your life. Deepening your faith as you see fit can allow you to learn so much about whom you really are and who you want to be. Take a look at a spiritual leader that you admire. Define his/her qualities and how the two of you are alike and different. What would you like to change to be more like that other person? Make a plan to do it. Once you have done that, educate those around you and invite them to share this journey with you. Would becoming involved in a local group that shares your ideals help you to grow even more? Celebrate the accomplishments you make and share them with others.
Now that you have even more things to think about, I hope you feel encouraged to look at least one of these 10 areas and make life more of what you want it to be. Analyze one area a week or one a month.....the choice is yours. Celebrate the areas where you feel you don't have to make any changes. Just remember to have patience as you attempt these changes. Change is not easy. Change puts us outside our comfort zone. Allow yourself the time to change. Allow your spouse or daughter or Dad that same time as well.
If you wish to go more in depth with this discussion, please call my office to set up an appointment and I will gladly assist in the discovery process.
I wish you well on your journey this month and remember that it helps to look at these areas from the Positive Perspective....