By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times
What goals did you set your sights on, to complete in 2018? Are you satisfied with your results or is there still unfinished business to tend to in order to start 2019 strong?
What didn’t you get done? Are you beating yourself for not getting those things done?
What is your plan now? In spite of having a few tasks on your list, is the vision for your future still in sight? If your vision is still in sight, then don’t waste any of your energy fretting over what you didn’t accomplish. Readjust your mindset to the “here and now”, and to your 2019 list. Open a new page with this year’s goals, which may include what you didn’t accomplish in 2018. Having said that, consider whether or not those items were truly important to you. You may want to include some of them but you may find that some items have lost their importance. Let go of those items that may be affecting your clear vision.
Here are a few suggestions that will help you set your goals and keep your vision in sight.
- Write your goals down. This is of the utmost importance! Goals, unwritten, get forgotten. Your list has got to be “in your face”, in a prominent location. Hint: I copy my list and place it in a few places around my house, like one on my night table, one in my home office and one in my kitchen.
- Monitor your progress. Whether it is weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Check in with your list to make sure you’re moving forward.
- Set mini goals, leading up to your big goals. This way you can track how far you’ve come and how close you are to getting to the end zone.
- Once each goal is met, BOLDLY CROSS IT OFF! Be dramatic about it! Make a noise! Celebrate the accomplishment in a big way!
In closing, reflecting on the year gone by, we remember our triumphs and mishaps, our promises made and broken, the times we opened our hearts to new possibilities and the times we closed ourselves up, for fear of rejection and hurt.
Starting a new year is about wiping the slate clean and getting another chance to get it right. It’s a chance to forgive, to do better, to let go of the things that scare you and just go for it, fearlessly. Ask yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Maybe you’ll get a no. Maybe you’ll have someone who you thought was a friend, tell you to not contact them again, ever! Through this, you will begin to remove the weeds from your life, giving room for new growth. It will free you up to do more, to give more, to love more and to stop worrying about the “what ifs”. Instead, start embracing the “what will be”.
Let’s remember the holiday season, when most people are nicer, kinder and more accepting and be mindful to be nice to each other, kind to each other and more accepting of each other the whole year through.
Can you imagine what the world would be like? That’s the kind of world I want for my grandchildren. All of this starts in our homes. Our homes are the first “world” that children know and learn from.
I hear so many say that they hope this year will be good. Don’t hope, DECIDE! Yes, decide that it WILL be and set an intention, each day, on what you will do to move closer to that decision, doing everything in your power to make that decision a reality.
Renew your vows to yourself. It is my prayer that you will have an amazing year, which surrounds you with love, laughter and joy!
