This is part 5 in a series dedicated to how we can accomplish our goals and realize our dreams (also see part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4). By now we have a good understanding of our character strengths, the needs in the world that move us most, the values and principles that guide our lives and we have a mission statement expressing the purpose of our life. We also have a description of the life we dream to live in the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. Finally, we have chosen four intentions we have fully committed to realize. The next step is to set goals and actions...
As I mentioned earlier, we are going to accomplish these goals because they are not a result of some random brain storm of to-dos. They are linked to a process of unleashing our true potential. We are not just simply creating a better life, we are realizing the life God intended us to have, we are living His will.
In creating goals I think of three things: what are skills I need to accomplish my intention? For example, we may need to learn how to paint with oils, learn Spanish, improve our knowledge of the Church's Social Teachings, or how to do home-schooling. Second, there will be some goals for the actions needed to actually create the result we want. Finally, I think about what barriers could get in the way of realizing my intention. I then create at least one goal to mitigate the barriers. What could prevent me from getting up at 5:30 AM to pray? Perhaps I need to change some habits to go to bed earlier.
To create the goals we follow a trusted acronym: SMART. Goals need to be...
Specific: We need to answer who needs to do what by when and how.
Measurable: How would we know we have accomplished it? How would we know we are making the right progress?
Attainable: Because of the work we have done up to now, this will be easier since we are only setting goals for very important things that are aligned with our purpose and for which we are committed to.
Realistic: It's OK to set challenging goals, but they must be realistic given everything else in our life and our current ability to accomplish them. I may have the right training and emotional state to do a weekend silent retreat, I may not be able to withstand a 40 day silent retreat. Set goals that push us past the comfort zone so that we can grow, but ensure they are realistic.
Tangible: You should be able to taste, smell, touch, hear, or see you goal. Even if we want to do something like grow spiritually, we need to think of how we would know.
Finally, create a list of three to five actions or steps that you would need to do to accomplish the goal. What would be the very next thing you need to do? These should be things that you could do in an hour or less. These are the things you would put on you calendar or day timer. That's right, we will have all of this in writing and in a place we can refer to them often.
Enjoy the process! You are unleashing your potential to live a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life!
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thanks for visitng the online vocations club!!! we had just started it as you could see and we hope to help promote vocations and to share eadch others stories!!! i am blessed to be apart of such a wonderful group of people through the internet and those whom i met in my discernment!!! god bless!!!
Posted by: sixtina nicolette | November 08, 2005 at 12:07 AM