Tomorrow it will be 2009 – yet another mile marker in your journey through working motherhood. How has the journey been so far?
If you read my post earlier this week, you might already be consumed with a flurry of desires, dreams and goals
Can 2009 really be tomorrow?!
While I’d love to offer you advice – peppered with the requisite amount of saccharine, motivational words – that guarantees you’ll easily achieve all your goals in ’08 and ’09…I can’t. I just don’t have that kind of mojo. So, I hope you’re not too disappointed in the advice I am going to give. But you need to hear it:
Key Principle:
To achieve your 2009 intentions, you must thoughtfully reflect on where you are today in relation to where you want to be.
In practice, this means taking time to be internally focused on what you’ve done to arrive where you are before determining what you’ll do in the future. After all, “if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got” (author unknown).
Often, the reason you fail to accomplish the things that hope for, is because you’re stuck doing the same ‘ol thing. The only difference is that you’re doing the same ‘ol thing in a new calendar year. To make a difference in 2009, you must do different things. But before you pursue difference, you have to know what you’ve done. Don’t let the busyness of working motherhood allow you to overlook this essential step!
Take time to reflect, evaluate and consider what you did in 2008. This step is a lot like taking a shower before you apply deodorant. The deodorant is much more effective when you’re clean, rather than layering it on body funk, right? (Did she just go there? Yes, I did and I hope I got my point across!)
As you begin to reflect on 2008, here are some questions to get your thoughts flowing:
- What choices did you make? Everything you do is a choice, even if it’s to stay in a job that doesn’t work well for you. Consider how the choices you made created what you have today. If you don’t like it, plan to make different choices.
- What were you thinking? There are countless experts and resources that describe the power of your thoughts. If you thinkin’ was stinkin’ in 2008, imagine how things might be different had you shifted your thoughts.
- Who did you learn from? The people from whom you accept advice or direction from can radically change your course. Be sure that you’re rubbing elbows with the right people. If you hang out with a bunch of complainers, worriers, and down-right negative people, then it’s time to elevate your circle of influence. After all, they’re influencing you!
As you begin to critically assess 2008, you will gain greater clarity on what changes, approaches and actions you must take to achieve your goals for 2009. Please be brutally honest and realistic about what you’ve done in relation to the results you achieved (or failed to achieve). There’s no need to sugar-coat the truth; you’d only be failing yourself. And don’t wait…start this essential process now and get ready to make some positive differences in 2009.
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You are just giving me way too many blog topics to work with. But it’s a good thing- I need to focus and stay motivated. I am working on this post now.
These are some great suggestions!! I am actually forgoing the resolutions this year – instead earlier this year I started to tackle 101 goals in 1001 days (of course I blog about it…http://penny-wise-diet.blogspot.com/)
I really appreciate your approach to the New Year! Yesterday was a bit of a wash, but today I’m looking forward to getting organized and planning for the coming year. I especially love your deodorant comment, by the way!
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