2011 is coming to a close, and we should prepare to reflect and set our goals for 2012. What process do you use to set your goals? If you don’t yet have a method, you are with the majority of people. Let’s look at one format that might be able to help you.
In Today Matters, by John C. Maxwell, John looks at twelve areas of life that he uses to drive his life long goals. He uses these areas to make every day count. If we use these same categories for a year end review, it will help us define our plan for next year.
This week let’s review the first six areas of focus.
Attitude: How is your attitude? Do you face each day positively? Your attitude at the beginning of a task will affect the outcome more than anything else. What goal can you set for 2012 that will allow you to be more positive and start each day with a good attitude?
Priorities: Setting priorities makes sure we work on the most important things. Take a few minutes to write a list of your achievements for 2011. List the activities that you spent time on. Review the list and reflect on how you set your priorities. Do you see balance in all the areas of your life? How can you improve your daily, weekly, and monthly method for setting priorities?
Health: Many of us fail to think of our health in the bigger picture of our life. Most of us control diet and exercise through short term goals. Reflect on how your current state of health affects what you do, how you are perceived, and your potential for the future. How would you compare your health today with yourself one year ago? What goal do you need to set for 2012?
Family: Family is the backbone of our daily life. Irregardless of your personal situation, your immediate family, your extended family, and your family values is what provides you with stability. Reflect on your current family situation. Are you giving as much as you are receiving? What can you do in 2012 to strengthen your family and provide more stability for yourself?
Thinking: Thinking and reflection is a practice that provides an advantage. Taking time to reflect and think about your actions and how they affect your success and failure will allow you to grow, every day. How consistent are you in taking time for yourself to think every day? How can you improve your reflection process to think bigger in 2012?
Commitment: In today’s fast paced world filled with opportunities and activities, it can become easy to over commit. If you provide focus and commitment to a goal, you will be successful. As other people quit and move on, your commitment provides you a path that ends in success. What activities in 2011 did you not finish? How did you lose your commitment? What activities or goals in 2012 will get your full commitment?
That is the first six. Check back next week for a continuation of this list that will help you get off to a great start in 2012.