Here is my challenge to you:
Ø
Set an intention for
yourself every morning, before you get out of bed, for how you want to
experience your day, (pleasant, fun, educational, joyful, loving).
Ø During
the day, as your day unfolds, check in with your choice and see how well you
are holding your intention.
Ø
If you have veered off
course, it is ok. Simply recognize it.
Ø Stop,
breathe and ask yourself, “what do I have to let go of, right now, to realign myself
towards the intention I chose this morning?”
Ø
Reset your intention
in the moment. Honor the choice you made.
Ø Repeat
daily and watch how your life changes.
Goal Setting! Smart goals are the most effective way to set goals- The formula I use for goal
setting is called the SMART goals system.
So what are smart
goals? Smart means
S - SpecificM - Measurable
A - Acceptable
R - Realistic
T - Time-frame
1. Specific- Specific means that you
describe your goal in as much detail as possible, the more clearly defined, the
better.
For example, "I will write a book,
" is a general goal. Instead, "I will write a historical romance by
December 31st," is a specific goal. If you dream of a new car,
what does the new car look like? You decide on a "Packer yellow, 2012 Aveo
that gets 40 MPG, including a full package navigation system." Good, this is a specific goal. -- The more
precise you are, the better.
2. Measurable - To see if your goal is
measurable, you may ask questions such as How many? How much? How do I know
when the goal is achieved?
You will
know how you process your goal when making it measurable. You stay on track,
reach your goal little by little, and see your progress.
If a goal cannot be measurable, it is not
a smart goal. That's why "happy" or "successful" are not
goals as such. Be specific! "I plan to write ten pages every day, "
shows the specific target to be measured. "I will write every day,"
is not as measurable.
3. Acceptable (some smart goals say
Acheivable) - It
means you accept this goal and what it requires to achieve it. It doesn't mean
easy, just that you can have a reasonable expectation of achieving the goal.
4. Relevant (some smart goals say
Realistic) - Realistic
means that you can complete the goal. This goal is acceptable and can be
reached. Relevant means that the goal is important to you. It's something that
you genuinely want, that fits in with your values and beliefs, and that you are
prepared to work towards the goal.
It's important to distinguish here between
a goal and a passing thought. For example, you may like the notion of becoming
a top racing driver, but are you really prepared to get up early and
train every single day for the next 5 years?
5. Time-frame - Time-frame is the last
factor. It means you have to put a deadline on achieving your goal. Well, suppose
we don't put a deadline, how long is it going to take? Maybe forever. So add a
completion date to your goal.
Once you
have set up a goal, find out if your goal is smart according to this system.
Adjust your goal until it is a smart goal.
When you are writing your goals, you
should start from your big picture goals. If you start from mini goals, you may
lose sight of the big picture goals and go to the wrong direction. Our lives
have many aspects so think about what you want to achieve in these aspects.
You will have a road map of your life
after writing down your goals. Writing goals is really interesting and I really
like this process of goal setting. It gives you the opportunity to plan your
future life. You will decide where you want to go and what you will be like
many years later. Isn't it exciting?
