It’s that time of year again! New Year, New Decade! With goal setting articles, podcasts, and social graphics floating the internet and in our heads. The zeal, excitement, and fire to make changes and crush goals, whether for fitness, money, personal, or career, radiate through our blood.
Life has been such a faith walk this January, and I feel that my desire for freedom is within arms’ reach. Thanking God for His faithfulness through my transition within my career. (stay tuned for more of that story)
- 1 Six things to consider for goal setting in 2020
- 1.1 Why do you even want to set goals?
- 1.2 What areas of your life need the most change?
- 1.3 Are these goals indeed for me or because everyone else is doing?
- 1.4 How can I keep my motivation for the long haul?
- 1.5 Are the goals I set reasonable for attainment within one year?
- 1.6 How would you feel if you didn’t meet your goals?
- 1.7 How Can I Help?
- 1.8 Supportive Blog Post:
- 2 Chyna Nicole
- 3 Related
PRAISE BREAK.
We’ve just completed the first month of 2020, and I already see the “Negative Nancys” out and about on social media. They post negative statuses about people making goals/resolutions and are going to fall off around February-March. Such pessimism!
It is a trend we see year after year. I call it the “New Year, New Me High.” But guess what! Then I was not going to become victim to that stereotype (don’t claim it). This past year, I set 16 goals and accomplished half of them. I was so proud of myself. ( Go, Chyna! It’s YOUR BIRTHDAY). But this year, I took a different approach to my goals, and maybe you should consider these things too.
Six things to consider for goal setting in 2020
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Why do you even want to set goals?
When I was setting my goals, I thought deeply about why I wanted to set goals. The reason is that when you have a meaningful reason behind putting in your effort, you’re more than likely to stay focus on the destination. Besides, we are more likely to achieve the goal. I often like to attach my plans to a feeling that I won’t because we are emotional beings (whether you claim to be or not). Emotion often precedes behavior, so I tend to associate how I want to feel about the goal and feel I want to have when I accomplish the goal.
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What areas of your life need the most change?
I will warn you, if you’re anything like me, you may spend a large amount of time on Pinterest. Looking for ideas, whether it’s recipes, parenting help, ways to declutter the home, or even budget strategies, there’s tons of information out there regarding setting goals. Articles are telling you specific areas you need to set goals and how to write those goals. I recommend you to complete an inventory of all areas of your life before. My favorite is the Wheel of Life activity or Life Satisfaction Worksheet. It breaks down your life into eight regions and allows you to assess how satisfied you are in each room. The sites that score low should be the areas you should set goals to make changes and create life balance again.
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Are these goals indeed for me or because everyone else is doing?
Often, we get caught up in what others are doing in their own lives to create their lives in ours. Please don’t create a fitness goal because your friend or someone we look up to is doing it. You can use other people as examples or models but do not try to create their life on your own. God made us all different, with different gifts, purposes, strengths, and weaknesses. Be who God created you to be. (1 Corinth 12:18-19)
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How can I keep my motivation for the long haul?
Put your why at the forefront of everything you have to do to meet the goal. Most of my personal goals are set to create freedom in my life and be more time for me to be an intentional parent to my baby girl. Sometimes even though you have a why you still can’t keep up with your goal, and that’s OK because we are not perfect. My answer to that is making sure we’re putting God at the center of each goal. Even though you may fall short, God is with you. (2 Corinth 12:9) What will make you stand out is getting back up again and trying again? Re-evaluate quarterly if you need to.
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Are the goals I set reasonable for attainment within one year?
Do not create goals you know you cannot achieve within one year. When you do this, you put pressure on yourself to damage your confidence in getting things done. Consult with God about what he wants for you this year. We like to call this in my church “GET YOUR RHEMA!” Moreover, this is when developing small attainable steps is essential to help assist you in meeting your more meaningful goals.
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How would you feel if you didn’t meet your goals?
I always encourage my mamas to prepare for their reaction whether they achieve the goal or not. You are learning to separate your identity and your sense of being from the actual plan. Allow your perspective to stay the same regardless of what the outcome will be. Paul tells us repeatedly to learn to be content with where we are even though we’re striving toward something more. Because if we are at least seeking, we are doing better than where we started. Do not allow a vision to make you discount the blessings you’ve already received.
A goal should scare you a little, and excite you ALOT. -Joe Vitale
All in all, consider these things when not only setting but reviewing your goals. Goals are flexible, but they do give you an aim to direct your efforts and energy. Your goals should be checked frequently and placed in places that you will see them often. I have my goals on my computer screen because I’m always on my computer. (Hey, I’m working on that, though.)
How Can I Help?
If goals are just one of those tasks that overwhelm you, then I would advise you to reach out to someone you trust or that you see as a fit to support you as you take on these tasks. Like most single moms, our community of support is minimal (which can change when you tackle your social woes). Also, that’s when I come in.
Supportive Blog Post:
- Single Mom Goals: How To Confidently Execute Your Values in 1 year
- 5 Changes To Make For Single Mom Success This Year
- 12 Tips To Begin Leading Yourself In Life
You can also join the Women Seeking Confidence Facebook group for a community of women headed in the same direction as you in regards to growing in relationships:
I have a friend who needs to read this. She seems very stuck, and is a single mama. Theres so much hope for her to live the life she truly desires! Thanks for the post, ill share your blog with her.
Awww thanks for your comment! Feel free to share. My goal is to ignite the fire that I know is deep down inside these women. I am a single mama myself and have been stuck on many occasions but I am determined to live the life I desire.
This is a great blog post! It gave me some things to consider when I sit down and make out my goals. I am definitely a goal oriented person so these really speak to me. Thanks for sharing!
I definitely consider myself a goal-oriented person as well. I’m glad you were able to take something away from this post.
I always feel goal setting is imperative to getting ahead. I love making lists and checking off items that I know are getting me closer to my goals!
Exactly, if you don’t create goals, you will just stand still. Thanks for commenting. I love a fellow goal setter!