What do you envision for yourself in 2014? When was the last time you gave yourself permission to dream – I mean really dream – about what you want to create for yourself?
Often the stuff that really matters is undiscernible when looking at the big picture ‘shoulds’ of our lives. Some of us have excavated and taken chances at different times to bring those bright sparklies into the light, but more often than not, we need to scuff our feet around in the neglected corners of our minds to find our tossed aside dreams. I challenge you to dig around a little for the gem that really matters – the one that makes your heart sing – dust it off and find some small way to bring it into your life.
Much is written about the art and science of goal setting and attainment. Some of it is quite intricate and precise, which may work well for some. My life has taught me, that for me, there is much more satisfaction, joy and success in learning to hold the reins loosely – keeping my eyes open and adjusting as necessary – when it comes to moving toward the next horizon.
As we move into the final days of 2013, I am taking the time for:
- Reflection – Looking back on my 2013 in order to help create the 2014 I desire
- Dreaming Forward – Figuring out what I really want for myself in 2014
- Creating Momentum – Jumping in with both feet to create the life I want in 2014
In the first of three blog posts I will talk a bit about the first of these steps – Reflection.
- Reflection: An important, and often overlooked, step in creating the life you desire. After all, how can you know where you are going if you don’t know where you’ve been? Questions to ponder include:
- What were your favourite moments of this past year? (i.e. the moment I heard about getting the job I’d had my fingers crossed for)
- What were my biggest successes this year? (i.e. Having the courage to tackle a problem in a new and innovative way)
- If 2013 taught me 3 lessons, what would they be? (i.e. Stop waiting to live)
- What positive changes have I made in my life this year? (i.e. Looking after my needs more)
- What components have I added to my ‘success formula’ this year? (i.e. Sharing my dreams more openly with people who support me, which has helped me achieve my goals)
- What character traits of mine really came to the surface and were developed this year? (i.e. I really worked out my courage muscle)
- What challenges came up for me in 2013 and how did I handle them? (i.e. I revamped my business by chunking things up into little steps, even when I didn’t have much time)
- What hard decisions did I make that really improved my life? (i.e. Learning to speak up and be more authentic, even when it was really scary)
- How have I been a better friend to myself? (i.e. more compassion for self)
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. ~ Zig Ziglar
Sit with these questions and let them reveal answers that will help you create all you envision for yourself. Capture the answers on paper or voice recorder that feel important so you can use them to pull you forward. Tomorrow I will blog about the second step – Dreaming Forward.
Feel free to share your experience with these questions by commenting or emailing me directly at info@janspragge.com. I look forward to hearing from you. And, please share this post with your friends and colleagues by using the share buttons below. Happy reflecting…
