Happy New Year to You – 2012!
This is the time of the year when we all reflect on the last year and our lives in general. We think about what we want to bring in for the new year and reflect on what would be best for our life. It is the perfect time for goal-setting! Here are seven goal-setting tips:
1. Make it a treat! Set up a good mood for your goal-setting time. Create an environment that makes you feel good. Build a fire and pour a glass of wine, sit in the middle of a grove of trees, pick your favorite beach spot, put on some great music, or get snuggled up in your coziest blanket and pour a cup of tea.
2. Set goals for all the main areas of your life. We tend to set the most intense goals in the area where we want to effect the most change. We may set all our goals regarding better finances or fitness and forget to set goals in the other areas of our life. The eight categories we use are: Family & Social, Spiritual & Mental, Physical & Health, Business, Financial, Home & Garden/Yard, Creativity & Educational and Travel.
3. Don’t be too serious. These are your goals. Don’t get analysis-paralysis. Get started and let it flow.
4. Keep it realistic. Set yourself up for success. Create goals that are attainable. You can always change your goals at any time.
5. Create a wish list in addition to your goals. List places you want to go, things you want to do and items you wish to acquire.
6. Have fun with it and dream! Imagine you are limitless. What would you want to do? Set your goals from your mind and your heart. Don't only "think" what you need to do; think about how you "feel" about the goal. Does it feel good, happy or fun? Let your emotions be your guide.
7. Just do it! Goal-setting is one of the most important things to do to transform your life. You may not know where all this "goal-setting stuff" will lead; all you need to know is that it is the next step on your journey of transformation. Things getting stagnant? Have a goal setting session!
Other Tips: Write your goals in the positive instead of the negative. Work for what you want, not for what you want to leave behind or what you think just sounds good. Part of the reason why we write down and examine our goals is to create a set of instructions for our subconscious mind to carry out. Your subconscious mind is a very efficient tool, it can not determine right from wrong and it does not judge. It's only function is to carry out its instructions. The more positive instructions you give it, the more positive results you will get.
GOAL: Gratitude Offers Abundant Living. Start a gratitude journal. Before going to bed write down five things you are grateful for.
SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely. The SMART acronym is helpful in getting your goals written out in complete detail.
One of the great secrets of esoteric studies is to keep it to yourself. Unless someone is critical to helping you achieve your goal(s), do not freely share with others. The negative attitude from friends, family and neighbors can drag your energy away from success.
Of course our favorite thing to include in goal setting is vehicle maintenance: Your car needs you and you depend on your car.
Happy Goal setting/achieving!