Year end Reflection – Stage 3 – Now What

As we bid farewell to the first week of January, have you started penning down your 2024 goals?  If you haven’t, don’t worry, it’s never too late to set a goal. If you have initiated your plans for the new year and are crushing your goals, congratulation! If you have encountered a hiccup like missing a workout, I understand. It happens. Don’t be discouraged.

New goals don’t deliver new results. New lifestyles do. And a lifestyle is a process, not an outcome. For this reason, all of your energy should go into building better habits, not chasing better results.

James Clear – Atomic Habits

Here are five key considerations to keep in mind as we embark on setting goals for the coming year:

1. Embrace a Positive Mindset  

Adopting a positive and growth-oriented mindset is pivotal for achieving goals. When it comes to goal setting, there are two groups: those enthusiastic about setting goals and those reluctant to do so. The latter often cites past attempts, saying, “I’ve tried, but it never works. My goals are forgotten by the end of January, and a year passes with no change.” While I empathize with the frustration of those who shy away from goal-setting, I encourage you to give it another shot. Don’t let past setbacks define your future.  As George Bernard Shaw wisely said, “A life spent in making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”

A life spent in making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

George Bernard Shaw

2. Balance and Diversity Matters  

Try setting goals that span across various aspects of your life, including career, health, relationships, personal development, and hobbies. This approach ensures a more fulfilling life. I structure my goals around eight key categories that I consider essential for a balanced life: Faith, Fitness, Career, Intellectual, Family, Friends, Fun, and Finance. I evaluate each category based on the previous year’s performance, making necessary adjustments and reprioritizing my goals. This iterative process ensures that my current pursuits are a thoughtful extension of my past intentions. The saying “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a valuable reminder. This common proverb advises against concentrating all resources or efforts on a single venture or investment, emphasizing the importance of diversification to reduce risk and increase the likelihood of success. This principle is equally applicable to setting goals across various facets of life.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

3. SMART Goals Bring Success  

Rather than having a broad goal like “exercise more,” aim for specificity, such as “exercise for at least 30 minutes, three times a week.” Apply the SMART criteria—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound—to shape your goals. This framework aids in crafting realistic, trackable goals and a clear timeframe for accomplishment, significantly enhancing the likelihood of success.

4. The Power of Daily Discipline  

Achieving your goals relies not on grand gestures but small, daily, consistent acts of discipline. As most of your resolutions are intricately tied to habits, remember that habits take time to form. How are you incorporating discipline into your journey toward a goal? Consistency is the linchpin to cultivating new habits. Whether committing to regular exercise, acquiring a new skill, or dedicating time to personal development, devise a schedule that seamlessly integrates into your daily or weekly life. Establishing a routine reinforces the desired behaviour and simplifies staying on track. For instance, if your goal is to run a marathon, running at least 3-5 times a week is crucial to building the strength and endurance needed to complete the race. Failing in the habit of showing up for runs means you won’t be adequately fit to achieve your marathon goal. In the words of Jim Rohn, “Who you become is far more important than what you get.” Shift your focus from fixating on the result to valuing the journey and the daily efforts. Success is discovered in your faithfulness and commitment today. Show up, persist every day, and witness the transformation unfold.

Who you become is far more important than what you get.

Jim Rohn

5. Review, Adjust & Thrive  

Goals are not set in stone; they should be flexible. Regularly review your progress, celebrate achievements, and be open to adapting your goals based on changing circumstances or priorities. This ongoing evaluation ensures your goals remain relevant and attainable. William Arthur Ward wisely said, “The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts the sails.” The metaphor of adjusting the sail implies a readiness to navigate and respond to the changing winds, highlighting resilience, flexibility, and leadership qualities. It fosters a mindset that actively seeks solutions and embraces change rather than passively hoping for favourable conditions or anticipating difficulties. Embrace challenges as learning opportunities, viewing setbacks as temporary obstacles rather than failures.

The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts the sails.

William Arthur Ward

Now What – What are your goals for the New Year

Think about your goals, plans and aspirations for the new year. Write about the goals you want to set, big and small, simple and audacious, easy and hard, and how you plan to achieve them.

Conclusion 

As we stand at the crossroads of reflection and anticipation, let’s carry these insights into the new year. Embrace challenges, navigate changing winds, and view setbacks as stepping stones to growth. Success is not a destination reached in weeks; it’s a journey measured in years of dedication and transformation. Here’s to a future filled with purpose, resilience, and the unwavering commitment to becoming our best selves.

Try at least one goal this year. Commit to it. I am cheering for you.

What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.

Vern McLellan