3 tips for making goals that work for you

I am ready for this year with open arms, arms much smaller the Hibbert’s, but open none the less.

I went back and forth so many times on the different ways to approach new years resolution/goals that I eventually couldn’t make heads or tails of any of it. What I realized is that when I am planning goals there are three things I should keep in mind no matter what style of goal I am thinking about crafting.

Does this style of goal work with my personality
If you are, like me, a list maker an abstract word for the year might not be the right style of goal for you and vice versa.

Do these goals play to my strengths
One of my strengths is learning new information so finding goals that allow me to keep adding to my knowledge are key for me. To find your strengths I recommend checking out the StrengthsFinder Book.

Do these goal push me to grow
The point of goals should be to improve something about yourself or accomplish something you thought was just out of reach. Don’t limit your goals out of fear of failure.

Throughout this process I had a list of accomplishments I wanted to have at the end of the year, I considered using my core desire word, I also thought about picking just one word to focus on for the year. Some felt true to me, but I go wrapped up thinking if these were good enough goals that I started doubting myself. After much searching, deliberation and applying my three points I am taking a little of each as I approach a year I have been anticipating since April. I have been eager for this year because I knew it would be a year of firsts; our first dog, our first house, and all the other firsts that come with those two things. From that came a list of accomplishments I want to have by the end of the year. Some are easier to cross of the list than others but every one of them pushes me to grow.

• buy a house
• get a dog
• run a half marathon
• bake my way through Martha Stewart’s Cookie Cookbook
• play 18 holes of golf
• develop more friendships
• start working for myself

The biggest of all of these is to start working for myself. If I don’t cross playing 18 holes off the list I will be ok, but working for myself is the one I want to achieve the most. I don’t know what this looks like yet and we will get to that next.

The last few years the idea of picking one word as a way to approach the year has gained a lot of popularity and while I like lists I am drawn to words. Especially words that I can glance at and get some type of motivation or clarity of my intentions and goals. I saw an instagram post by Jennifer Snyder and as I wrote the word clarity in my comment to her I thought that might be a good word. Unprompted Jennifer responded saying she thought clarity was a great word. Apparently it is just meant to be my word for 2015.

• Clarity about what’s important
• Clarity of my writing voice
• Clarity about my next career

I am looking forward to reflecting on the word as I go through this year. In addition to clarity I will be using my core desire words (poised, invigorated, in harmony, joyful, & vibrant) because they still resonate with me. The process of going through the The Desire Map Book and coming up with my core desires is a process that has truly helped me stay focused over the last half of 2014. I also think they will help me as I work with the word clarity in mind.

After weeks of self-doubt and comparison I finally have goals and a word that feels true to me. I don’t know if goals should be that hard, but I think my word, clarity, is already paying off.

How do you approach your goal setting at the new year or any time of the year?