| Quick Search | |
 |
|
|---|---|
It's 2009, that time of year again when we make our New Year's resolutions and we promise ourselves that this year will be different. Remember those promises you made to yourself nearly 12 months ago? How many have you kept and achieved?
You’re not alone if your resolutions have not come to fruition. According to statistics most people’s good intentions have lost steam by the end of January and are forgotten by February. It seems change is inevitable but progress is optional. To ensure you make 2009 your best year yet you need to put yourself back in the driving seat of your life.
With that in mind these ten questions should help you to create your best year yet.
1) What did I accomplish this year?
Reflect on your achievements and the best things about 2008. We often spend more time thinking about what we didn’t achieve than what we did. Focussing on your successes will build your confidence, self-esteem and motivation which will form the foundation of your achievements in 2009.
2) What were my biggest disappointments?
What dreams didn’t come true? What expectations didn’t you achieve? Telling the truth to yourself is important to help you to take stock of where you are at. Your disappointments are not failures, but help accelerate your learning. So take the lesson from your disappointments and then let go of them.
3) What did I learn?
What you experienced in 2008 is the greatest source of information for you –both your successes and disappointments. What worked, what didn’t and why? What would have worked better? What could you do differently this year? What advice do you have for yourself?
4) How do I limit myself?
We all limit ourselves in some way and hold ourselves back from fulfilling our potential. Our limitations can be our fears, doubts, negative thinking or just playing small. In order to have your best year yet you must discover how you limit yourself and take responsibility to change it.
5) What’s driving you?
To put yourself in the driving seat of your life you need to understand what drives you. Your personal values help you to understand what motivates you. They lie at the very centre of who you are and define your priorities. Living your life in alignment to your values leads to inner peace, harmony and
fulfilment – but you need to take the time to understand what they are.
6) What roles do I play in my life?
Often we juggle so many things in our life that it is difficult to take stock – we can be a mother, daughter, wife, colleague, employee, sister, friend and much more all rolled into one. Looking at your life from the perspective of the roles you play provides a sensible way of integrating the various areas whilst
placing yourself and your values at the centre directing the show.
7) Which role is my major focus for 2008?
The purpose here is to pick one of your roles as your major focus of attention to create a breakthrough in your life. Your other roles will have goals as well, but there will be one area in which you want or need to make the most improvement or biggest change right now.
8) What are my goals for each role?
Research shows that one of the factors which differentiate high achievers from the rest of the population is their goal setting ability. For your goals to be powerful they need to be specific, measurable and aligned with your values.
Non-powerful goal: To exercise more
Powerful goal: To exercise for 45 minutes three times a week
9) What are my top ten goals for 2009
It is easy to overwhelm ourselves with lots of goals. The key to success is clarity and focus. By focussing on ten goals (or perhaps less) you ensure that you don’t dilute your efforts and commitment.
10) How can I make sure I achieve my top ten goals?
The chances are that your answers to the previous nine questions were not surprising. I bet that you knew most of the answers before you started but here lies the problem for most people – we know what we need to do, but we don’t do what we know! The first tip for breaking this cycle is to keep your plan visible, review it regularly and keep it at the forefront of your mind. The second tip is to take action! Every great journey starts with a single step.
Now, re read this list and then break down your goals into small manageable steps, filling them in on the ThinQ Fit-Kit is an excellent way of tracking your progress,then in a year's time you can look at your list and think "WOW, Haven't I done well". Good Luck.
Other articles in this series:
Download your ThinQ Fitness Fit Pack here.
