It’s nearing the final 45 days of 2017 and we are now planning for TCFC’s annual New Year Goals and Planning Retreat to be held January 6, in Jacksonville, Florida. For those who can’t make it to the retreat, I am providing weekly online tips and tools in place of the regular End-of-Year Goals Wrap Up and Reflection workshop.
The first important step to move forward with new goals and improve planning for the coming year is to reflect on and celebrate our accomplishments in 2017. This enlightening confidence-building process begins by looking at our past goals and identifying breakthroughs, lessons learned, and paths that reflect personal resilience against ongoing and unexpected change. Ask yourself what worked, what didn’t work, and what opportunities emerged.
1. Goals in Review
Accomplishments “What worked”
Challenges “What didn’t work”
Opportunities “Identify patterns”
After these items have been fully explored and listed on paper, take a moment for mindfulness and self-gratitude. Thank yourself for honoring your vision, for living authentically, and for moving forward with greater understanding and appreciation for yourself and those around you.
After you’ve fully celebrated, take a look at your accomplishments, challenges, and opportunities through the lens of self-discovery. What does this mean about your personal capacity, how you mentally frame challenges, and the personal systems you have put in place to hold yourself accountable.
How can patterns of behavior be reframed into an opportunity. For example, if your goal was to write one blog a month and you missed four months, what was the pattern of challenges that led to this result. One opportunity may be that during summer months, kids, vacation, and family begin to overwhelm your plans. Consider writing bi-monthly blogs during the preceding months, or breaking an old pattern of bedtime to add a new hourly routine, or invite a family member to write as a special project.
2. Self Awareness
Know your capacity (strengths, weaknesses, challenges)
Self coaching through challenges (match your goals with your passion)
Keeping a vision, plan, map (create a system of accountability)
The good news is that if you haven’t yet completed some goals, or achieved the outcomes you want, there is still time. These questions will also work against a checklist of your remaining goals. Prioritize the list in order of what you can most accomplish in eight weeks and ask yourself, “What would prevent me from accomplishing these goals now.” Start working to remove the easiest obstacles and work towards freeing up harder challenges just in time for the new year.
Take a fresh approach and renew your confidence. You can do it!
Dr. V. Brooks Dunbar,
Contact Info:
Facebook: @DrVBrooksDunbar
Twitter: @DrVDunbar @cent4confidence
Instagram: @DrVDunbar
www.TheCenterForConfidence.com