Welcome to the New Year!
The first week of the New Year is fertile ground to lay the foundation for an extraordinary 2013. Every year I share one of my favorite topics which I call A New Approach to Goal Setting. Coaching my clients on letting go of New Year's resolutions and exploring and embracing living a life aligned with what is MOST important to them, literately transforms their quality of life. Read today's repeat article and begin to explore and discover one of the most transformational insights that will ensure a rewarding and fulfilling year ahead.
P.S We have extended our special on A New Approach to Goal Setting Ebook - see below.
Feature Article
January is a time when most people decide to reassess the ways they've been living their life and make some changes. So many of us start the New Year with a heart full of good intentions and a list full of resolutions, but the sad truth is that fewer than half of those resolutions will ever be met. Why is that?
Over the past 18 years, my work as a life and business coach has given me a front-row seat to watch the ways that people set goals and respond to them, and how they create lasting results in their lives. In the process, I stumbled onto an interesting insight: most people set uninspiring goals and spend more time struggling through life then truly enjoying it.
Nine times out of 10, people set goals that are based on what they "have to" get done or what they "should" do: lose the weight, organize the files, get the website up and running. They take all the unpleasant things they've been avoiding, and make an agreement with themselves to push through and finally get them done. "Push through" is key phrase here - it's the feeling behind most goals. No wonder we don't tend to keep our resolutions!
If you're ready to generate results in the easiest, most engaging way possible, it's time to take a fresh look at the entire concept of goals and resolutions. Instead of resolving to get the dirty work done, how about resolving to live a more enjoyable life?
What if you set goals that naturally inspire you? What if the very idea of your resolution made you want to take action on it? What if you chose goals that excite you, ones that light you up from the inside? The key is to set goals that correspond with your own values - the things are most important to you personally. Goals based on your values are the easiest and most rewarding ones to achieve. Why? Because you don't have to "push through" them. You want to do them. They make you reach higher, move faster, and engage more of yourself - and they feel good!
Sounds pretty good, right? So, how do you determine which goals align with your values? First you have to get clear on what your values are.
Your values are the intangible aspects of life that make you feel in alignment, complete, on track, and functioning at a high level. Examples include adventure, fun, service, creativity, connection, and hundreds more. A life that aligns with one's core values will feel satisfying, even in difficult times.
Because this topic of values can be a little confusing, let's make a distinction between "means values" and "end values." Means values are a way to get to end values. For example, I often have clients tell me they value family; but with a little further exploration, we discover that the underlying value (which extends beyond family) is really connection, belonging, or community. Family is one way to experience what they truly value in life.
When you set goals to experience more of what you value most, life gets immeasurably richer - and easier! If you value adventure, and you want to lose 10 pounds, don't vow to be at the gym every morning - get out and do something adventurous! If you value connection, and you want to make more money this year, find a job that pays you to develop relationships. Let your values lead you forward toward the life you really want, and make this year your best one yet.
Questions to Explore:
As you go through the next month, think about how you would complete this sentence: If I had plenty of free time and all the money I could ever want, then I would be free to ________(action) and that would let me experience more _______(value).
Do this exercise over and over to help you identify the aspects of life that you value most. Keep track of your answers...they're the road map to your life!
