Creating goals for the New Year has been a tradition around The Rose for a long time.
Personally, and in my role as CEO of The Rose, the process of writing down my new year’s goals ignites something mystical and fun within my soul. It allows me to “consider the possibilities” and dream BIG.
The process is simple. At the January Staff meeting, we provide envelopes for each staff member. They have been notified weeks ahead of time that they will have an opportunity to write their goals and seal them in the envelopes. My encouragement is usually something like, “Between now and the staff meeting, take some time to dream. What do you want your upcoming year to be like? Imagine enjoying seeing your dreams come true. Envision yourself attaining whatever it is that would make your heart sing.”
During the meeting, we allow a few minutes for the procrastinators to finally write theirs on paper and for the overachievers to add a few more! Afterwards, I collect the now sealed envelopes, tie them with a red ribbon, and put them in a special drawer — where they will stay until January 2014.
Each January I deliver envelopes to those folks who participated the past year. I promise the staff each year that they will be surprised (and pleased) to see which goals were achieved. I promise this because I know it to be true. I’ve seen it happen again and again.
I offer guidelines to help in the forming of goals and was reminded that these tips might be beneficial to our blog readers so I’m sharing them here as well:
Keep the goal in present time and word them as if they are already achieved.
If you write down, “I need” or “I want”, you will continue to “need” or “want” whatever follows those words. Stating “I have” or “I am” is much more powerful and sends signals to the brain that it is already yours!
For instance, saying “I am the perfect weight” is much stronger than “I lose 10 pounds.” (By the way, you also want to avoid the double whammy of using words like “lose”, because our brain is always looking to replace whatever we say we lose. And THAT’s not always a good thing!)
Make the goal measureable but be careful not to place too many limits on it.
“My bills are easily and effortlessly paid on time and there is plenty of money left over in the bank for my other desires!” is good, while “I earn xx amount of money” could limit what happens.
Don’t forget to include “time” goals.
For instance, “I have time for myself every week/month to ______ .“ (Fill in the blank—have my nails done, take a nap, read a book, play with the kids.)
And maintenance goals are always important -- those things you do anyway but want to be sure you do more of or don’t forget: “I call my family every week” or “I see a great movie each month” or “I exercise 5 times a week.”
Adding date measurements is another great reinforcement.
“I replace that old chair by April 2013.”
There really are no limits to the possibilities that lie ahead for all of us—as long as you don’t limit yourself.
Studies have shown that writing the goals down is powerful and when written down, the success rate of achieving them is phenomenal. We all wish for things to happen or change but until we write down that desire, it stays a wish—lost somewhere in the ethers.
I write down no less than 104 goals each year. I include my Personal Goals, Goals for The Rose, Together Goals to be accomplished with my Sweetie. (Please note, however, he has to agree to those for it to work.)
Why 104? I read somewhere that was a good number for goals and it is.
But you don’t have to limit your goals to 104! Whether it is 4 goals, 100 goals or more, start writing.
This time next year you will be amazed!
-- Dorothy Gibbons
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