A New Year Goal Strategy

Happy New Year!  Yesterday was the last day of 2016.  I started the day by getting on my knees to thank God for 2016.  I thanked Him for the ups and the downs.  Then I decided to write them down.  I made a list of the good things, the accomplishments, the joys.  Then I listed the disappointments.  As I wrote them on the paper, I realized that I could turn some, if not all, of the disappointments into goals!  I ended my prayer by asking God for help with ALL the ups and downs of the coming New Year!

How do you turn disappointments into goals?  Well, it really is a very simple problem-solving technique.  I’ve talked about it in several blogposts (“Goals 101,” “Goals 201,” and “Mindset”), and I challenge you to DO IT NOW.  Today is the perfect day to identify some goals for 2017!

Take out an 8½ x 11 sheet of paper.

 

First, write down the heading, “Accomplishments.”  Enumerate your accomplishments in 2016.  Try to list three or more, but if you have none, don’t be afraid to write “None.”  (If you write “None,” you should turn it into a goal for 2017… it’s time to accomplish something!)

Next, write down the heading, “Disappointments.”  Enumerate your disappointments in 2016.  The list could include anything that you believe was challenging or disappointing in your life during the past year, including health problems, relationship issues, failure to meet specific goals, areas in your life that you wish to improve, etc.  Try to list at least three.  Do not write “None.”  We all should have areas we seek to improve (see my blogpost, “Mindset”).

Now, identify some goals and list them under a “Goal” heading.  Evaluate your accomplishments and decide how to keep them going.  Look at each disappointment and think about how to turn it into a goal.  For example, if your goal is weight loss, don’t list “lose weight” as your goal.  Identify a specific action you can take, such as “increase my exercise,” and make that your goal, one small step at a time (see my blogpost, “10 Minutes A Day”).  If you’re disappointed that another year went by and you didn’t clean out your basement, don’t list “clean my basement” as your goal.  Instead, identify something specific, such as “make a trip to Goodwill once a month” (or, even better, once a week!), and make that your goal.  If your disappointment is a relationship issue, try setting a goal such as, “I will thank my husband (or wife) each day for something nice he (or she) does for me.”  (Now that is an attitude-changer!)  If another year went by and you didn’t take the trip of your dreams, set a goal to make it happen (e.g., open a travel account and initiate a direct deposit from your paycheck, and then look at your calendar)!

So, you can see that, with some prayerful reflection, you can turn disappointments into goals… and take some positive action.  Set a goal not to have any of the same disappointments appear on next year’s list.  Instead, they will be listed under "Accomplishments"!

Once you have identified the resources you may need and you have listed them under each goal, write down one last heading, entitled, “THIS WEEK.”  Write down one small step you can take this week to move toward each goal.  See?  Now you’ve already started, and I bet you’re feeling pretty good about overcoming those disappointments and accomplishing your goals!

Let’s summarize: (1) list your accomplishments/disappointments (thank God), (2) set your goals (write them down), and (3) take positive action (start this week).  This is a great problem-solving technique!

Don’t forget to start the process with prayer and ask for God’s wisdom each day as you move forward to achieve your goals for 2017!

Devotion

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.  1 Corinthians 1:25

Prayer:

       

Lord, thank you for 2016.  Thank you for the ups and the downs.  Teach us what you want us to know and give us wisdom to learn from our accomplishments and our disappointments.  We acknowledge that all we have is from you, and we seek to do the right thing with the blessings and gifts you have given us.  Help us to make plans and take action, in dependence on you every day, as we move in the direction of our goals.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

© 2017 Linda Lijewski