(no subject)
*** Article: Goal Setting and Your Annual Life Review - By Wendy
Betterini ***
----------------------------------------------------
If you've ever had a yearly performänce review for your job, you know it
can be a tense experience that determines whether you receive a pay raise
or not. Your boss will likely have a detailed checklist of your progress
and success, as well as notations on areas that could use some
improvement.
While these reviews can be stressful, they are also helpful because they
offer a bïgger perspective than you would ordinarily see in your
day-to-day job functions. You might become aware of activities that are
unproductive, limiting, or even detrimental to your professional
advancement.
You can also benefit from this same process by creating an annual New Year
review for your life. It can help you assess progress in all areas of your
life, address challenges and obstacles, and come up with some exciting
goals and plans for the New Year.
The best time to do a review is during the last few weeks of the year, but
it can be done any time you want a fresh start. You can choose to do just
one session or several, whatever works best for you.
* Set the Mood
When you are ready to begin, first create a calm, quiet atmosphere. Put on
comfortable clothing and choose a private area where you won't be
disturbed for 30-60 minutes. You can also light some scented candles and
incense, and play some soft music if you like. Grab a pen and notebook or
journal. Then take a few minutes to sit quietly and take some slow, deep
breaths. This will help you release stress and focus your thoughts.
* Review
Now you are ready to begin reviewing your life over the past year. Did you
accomplish everything you wanted to? Were there areas that could have used
some improvement? Give some thought to these six categories:
1) Physical health and fitness (diet, exercise)
2) Financial wellness (earnings, savings, investments)
3) Spiritual growth (inner peace, meditation, prayer)
4) Mental health (positive thoughts, attitude)
5) Career (job, business)
6) Relationships (with significant others, children, friends, family)
Ask yourself three questïons about each of these areas, and write your
answers in the journal.
1) Which of my positive actions contributed to growth and progress?
2) Which of my negative actions caused stagnation and lack of progress?
3) What could I do better to improve my progress in the coming year?
It is very important not to judge yourself harshly during this process! An
annual review is not about beating yourself up or concluding that you're a
terrible person. This should be an unemotional, objective view of your
life goals and progress. By becoming aware of areas where you can take
more control over your life, you can create more success and abundance.
* Plan
Now that you have a clear view of the past year and ideas about what you
could do differently, you can make plans and set goals for the coming
year. Again, look at the six main areas of your life: Physical health,
Financial wellness, Spiritual growth, Mental health, Career, and
Relationships. What would you like to create for yourself in the coming
year? Write some specific goals for each category. Your goals should be
realistic, yet somewhat challenging. You want to dream big, but not
overwhelm yourself either. It can also be helpful to break your bïgger
goals down into smaller increments. You can set 3 month goals, 6 month
goals, 9 month goals, and 12 month goals.
* Action Steps
This is a crucial step in the process. Once you have your goals set for
each category, think about the action steps that will move you toward your
goals. For example, if you want to losë weïght and get into better shape,
daily exercise would be an action step. That is something you need to do
every day (or nearly every day) in order to accomplish your goal. Be
specific with the action goals. Don't just write, "Eat healthy." Write
down exactly which foods you want to include, and which you want to avoid.
Write down the exact types of exercise you want to include, which days of
the week you want to do them, and for how many minutes each day.
* Enjoy the Journey
Once you begin putting your action steps into motion, it's important to
understand that self-improvement is a process. You won't change everything
overnight. By expecting too much, too soon, you could sabotage yourself.
Instead, keep focusing on the action steps every day. Congratulate and
praise yourself for keeping with it. If you begin to slack off, be firm
with yourself about getting back on track, but again, don't beat yourself
up. Simply refocus on your goals and begin again. All positive actions
will create positive results, and as long as you keep trying, you cannot
fail.
* Gauge Your Progress
It can be helpful to keep performing daily or weekly checks to be sure you
are moving in the right direction. Simply review the goals and action
steps you have set for yourself, and assess whether you are on track or
not. Again, keep this process unemotional and objective. If you see areas
that could use improvement, you already know the steps to take to turn
them around again.
Activities like this review process can be such a powerful tool in our own
development. No matter what we've achieved or haven't achieved in the
past, it's nevër too late to start over. Each new day is a chance to
invite more love, abundance, joy, peace, and success into our lives.
Simply by focusing our thoughts and taking action toward our goals, we can
create virtually anything we desire.
About the Author:
Wendy Betterini is a freelance writer who strives to motivate, uplift, and
inspire you to make your dreams a reality. Visit her website
http://www.WingsForTheHeart.com for more positive thoughts to help you on
your journey.
Betterini ***
----------------------------------------------------
If you've ever had a yearly performänce review for your job, you know it
can be a tense experience that determines whether you receive a pay raise
or not. Your boss will likely have a detailed checklist of your progress
and success, as well as notations on areas that could use some
improvement.
While these reviews can be stressful, they are also helpful because they
offer a bïgger perspective than you would ordinarily see in your
day-to-day job functions. You might become aware of activities that are
unproductive, limiting, or even detrimental to your professional
advancement.
You can also benefit from this same process by creating an annual New Year
review for your life. It can help you assess progress in all areas of your
life, address challenges and obstacles, and come up with some exciting
goals and plans for the New Year.
The best time to do a review is during the last few weeks of the year, but
it can be done any time you want a fresh start. You can choose to do just
one session or several, whatever works best for you.
* Set the Mood
When you are ready to begin, first create a calm, quiet atmosphere. Put on
comfortable clothing and choose a private area where you won't be
disturbed for 30-60 minutes. You can also light some scented candles and
incense, and play some soft music if you like. Grab a pen and notebook or
journal. Then take a few minutes to sit quietly and take some slow, deep
breaths. This will help you release stress and focus your thoughts.
* Review
Now you are ready to begin reviewing your life over the past year. Did you
accomplish everything you wanted to? Were there areas that could have used
some improvement? Give some thought to these six categories:
1) Physical health and fitness (diet, exercise)
2) Financial wellness (earnings, savings, investments)
3) Spiritual growth (inner peace, meditation, prayer)
4) Mental health (positive thoughts, attitude)
5) Career (job, business)
6) Relationships (with significant others, children, friends, family)
Ask yourself three questïons about each of these areas, and write your
answers in the journal.
1) Which of my positive actions contributed to growth and progress?
2) Which of my negative actions caused stagnation and lack of progress?
3) What could I do better to improve my progress in the coming year?
It is very important not to judge yourself harshly during this process! An
annual review is not about beating yourself up or concluding that you're a
terrible person. This should be an unemotional, objective view of your
life goals and progress. By becoming aware of areas where you can take
more control over your life, you can create more success and abundance.
* Plan
Now that you have a clear view of the past year and ideas about what you
could do differently, you can make plans and set goals for the coming
year. Again, look at the six main areas of your life: Physical health,
Financial wellness, Spiritual growth, Mental health, Career, and
Relationships. What would you like to create for yourself in the coming
year? Write some specific goals for each category. Your goals should be
realistic, yet somewhat challenging. You want to dream big, but not
overwhelm yourself either. It can also be helpful to break your bïgger
goals down into smaller increments. You can set 3 month goals, 6 month
goals, 9 month goals, and 12 month goals.
* Action Steps
This is a crucial step in the process. Once you have your goals set for
each category, think about the action steps that will move you toward your
goals. For example, if you want to losë weïght and get into better shape,
daily exercise would be an action step. That is something you need to do
every day (or nearly every day) in order to accomplish your goal. Be
specific with the action goals. Don't just write, "Eat healthy." Write
down exactly which foods you want to include, and which you want to avoid.
Write down the exact types of exercise you want to include, which days of
the week you want to do them, and for how many minutes each day.
* Enjoy the Journey
Once you begin putting your action steps into motion, it's important to
understand that self-improvement is a process. You won't change everything
overnight. By expecting too much, too soon, you could sabotage yourself.
Instead, keep focusing on the action steps every day. Congratulate and
praise yourself for keeping with it. If you begin to slack off, be firm
with yourself about getting back on track, but again, don't beat yourself
up. Simply refocus on your goals and begin again. All positive actions
will create positive results, and as long as you keep trying, you cannot
fail.
* Gauge Your Progress
It can be helpful to keep performing daily or weekly checks to be sure you
are moving in the right direction. Simply review the goals and action
steps you have set for yourself, and assess whether you are on track or
not. Again, keep this process unemotional and objective. If you see areas
that could use improvement, you already know the steps to take to turn
them around again.
Activities like this review process can be such a powerful tool in our own
development. No matter what we've achieved or haven't achieved in the
past, it's nevër too late to start over. Each new day is a chance to
invite more love, abundance, joy, peace, and success into our lives.
Simply by focusing our thoughts and taking action toward our goals, we can
create virtually anything we desire.
About the Author:
Wendy Betterini is a freelance writer who strives to motivate, uplift, and
inspire you to make your dreams a reality. Visit her website
http://www.WingsForTheHeart.com for more positive thoughts to help you on
your journey.