With Deborah Froese
It’s Not Too Late to Make Things Happen
So, the first quarter of 2023 has flown by. How are your plans for the year unfolding?
I need to put extra effort?
When that’s done, I journal to let go of anything that might be weighing me down or holding me to the past and bid that time farewell. Then it’s time to brainstorm dreams and possibilities for the months ahead. What do I want to achieve? Why? What do I need to do to get there? How can I step beyond any current limitations? Who can help me? With a vision in mind, I assign objectives to the aforementioned life categories. I look for areas where my objectives intersect, note particular behaviors or habits to focus on, and choose a word to define the months to come. With pen and paper in hand, I plot out highly defined but manageable steps for reaching each goal, always focused on why, the force behind my motivation. Yes, I am still setting objectives, but within a larger, more integrated context than a typical resolution. It’s like a roadmap; it establishes a trajectory without preventing me from taking detours when necessary or stopping to refuel. Regardless of life’s inevitable interruptions, my destination remains firm. Returning to or reviewing that map periodically allows me to recalibrate as needed. The opportunity to take leaps of imagination, to dream, plan, and create change isn’t limited to the new year. Start anytime – any month, week, day, or hour – and plan to make things happen.
We tend to greet January with a sparkling list of resolutions, full of enthusiasm for the year ahead. Lose a few extra pounds. Spend more time with family. Finally tackle that project, the one that will create a new income stream. Unfortunately, if you’re like most people, the sparkle quickly fades. By the end of the first quarter, failing to meet your resolutions leaves you feeling defeated or guilty. But why should passing time mean the end of possibility? And who says we have to wait for a new year to spark change? Let’s abolish the concept of resolutions triggered by a specific date. It’s too absolute and holds little regard for our humanness. We’re much better off setting a trajectory for the months ahead. Frustrated with my own lackluster performance, I stopped devising resolutions several years ago and replaced it with a more thoughtful practice of reflection and planning, one that I revisit throughout the year. I set aside several hours for this process, usually over a couple of days. First, I examine my old calendar and prepare a list of highlights assigned to various life categories ranging from relationships, community, and health to education, profession, and self- development. Then I evaluate them. What am I grateful for? What did I do well? What did I learn? How did I help others? Where do
Photo by Gerd Altmann, courtesy of Pixabay. Author, editor, and story coach Deborah Froese is on a mission to spark change through the stories we share. www.deborahfroese.com
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