It’s the season for holiday cheer and it’s the season for goal-setting. Although I waited until the last moment to finish my Christmas shopping, I was more proactive in my goal-setting. A few weeks ago I sat down to write out my 2010 intentions and goals – ever since I’ve been antsy.
I’m a big dreamer. I have high expectations. I expect a lot from myself and my life. My goals are reflective of my drive. On one hand I’m ready to charge forward to make those goals happen – they are exciting! Then, on the other hand I’m terrified – my goals will launch me into uncharted territory in 2010.
In the last few weeks, I’ve lost sleep thinking about my 2010 goals. On some nights, my mind is so filled with ideas and inspirations, that the notebook I keep at my bedside is filled by morning (of course, most of it’s illegible from my half-asleep scrawl). Then, there are the nights when my dreams are ominous and taunting. The vision of me reaching my goals is evaporated into a dark cloud and pulled out of my reach.
I could crank down my goals a bit and probably get a better night’s sleep, but I won’t. I’ll eventually figure out a way to channel all the energy – positive and negative – my goals have created and get back to restful sleep. For now, I’m content with being a bit uncomfortable because I know I’m on the right track. It’s similar to the feeling I had last week after doing Jillian Michaels‘ workout. My body was so sore that it was difficult to run the next day, but I know that temporary discomfort will make me a better runner because my body will be stronger.
Goals are similar – workout a new area, feel some discomfort, and then enjoy the fruits of that hard work. So, if you’re working on your 2010 goals, here are a few ideas I gleaned from my recent exercise in goal-setting:
- I created meaningful goals. In the past, I wrote goals that I thought should be on my list. But, I realized that goals that don’t reflect what I really want are impossible to achieve and if they happen to get done, there is little celebration in it.
- I created integrated goals. I use a “balance wheel” to develop goals in eight key areas to ensure my focus is on my whole life, not just a few areas.
- I created realistically big goals. I’m an optimistic person, but I’m grounded in reality. My goals are the same way – there is a realistic chance of me achieving them, though they will definitely require strong effort.
Now that my goals are written down it’s time to take the more challenging step, which in the words of my husband, “Don’t just talk about it, be about it!” OK honey…got it.
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Michele,
This is a great post with excellent advice for developing goals for 2010. I’ll be working on mine next week and will take your advice on how to approach them.
Marion
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