For most, each new year begins with an intentional review of some well thought out resolutions. By June, there is a sense of mid-year mediocrity with the inevitable crash by Christmas. Perhaps this is an utterly negative way to approach an article when we are only midway through January? My apologies. This is not the intention.
Delayed resolutions
The purpose of this article is precisely because I have not yet set my intentions for the year, something that would normally cause me extreme panic. Usually, my goals for the new year are laid out long before I’ve seen the old year out. And come January, I’m focused and ready to go.
For all of us, 2020 has sort of rolled into 2021 which has sort of rolled into 2022 – all under one umbrella called ‘pandemic’. Perhaps this decade will look like …2019, pandemic, 2023, 2034 and so on? The point is that there is still nothing usual, normal or clear about anything.
Why should it be any different about our goals or resolutions?
It’s this last statement that has made me rethink my entire philosophy concerning annual goals.
Unconforming resolutions
Why do they have to conform to the annual January to December parameter?
At what point did my personal growth and development equate to a 12-month paper plan?
Shouldn’t the focus be about me and not ‘me’ lined up to a calendar? And if so, I could do it at any time of the day, month, year or decade?
Which brings me to the concept of coaching and the power we have to coach ourselves to toward success on scale we set. We can start this process in the here and now, on this day, no matter when it is. We don’t need a calendar to tell us when to start. It means that when the inevitable obstacle comes our way, we can take our time reassess, overcome, and continue at our own pace. Our goal, our plan and our vision for success is simply extended within this frame of reference and not beyond the last page of the calendar.
Without the race to meet the calendar’s measurement of success, I find myself contemplating the actual process of growth and development. Supposedly there is joy in the journey and this is what I aim discover this year – however long I deem the year to be. The end point is where I am headed. I have an idea of where I would like to get to and what I imagine that point will look like, but it’s not set in stone. Who knows, a change in perspective may mean the goal is altered and thus the time frame extended. Imagine the freedom in that?
Without the pressure of completion, there is the possibility that I may place more focus on the journey and less on the result.
Reviewing resolutions
If like me you are only beginning to set your objectives for the year now, consider the following when setting them:
- It’s your journey. It’s not defined by a calendar.
- Consider an end point, any point?
- Imagine what it would feel like to get to there?
- What do you need to accomplish to get there?
- Are you able to visualise the steps required?
- Are you motivated to take these steps?
- Is there anything preventing you from taking these steps?
- What are you going to do to address this?
- What is going to keep you motivated?
- What will your first step be?
And then begin your journey, at your pace and in your time. (Dare I suggest you record it in any place other than a calendar!)
The objective is not to get there in time for December. The goal is to keep focused on what you hope to achieve and to imagine what it will look and feel like when you get there. Take note of the challenges you encounter along the way and the strategies you use to overcome them. Review, reflect and reconsider. And keep moving forward. But most of all, enjoy the journey. You will know when you reach your goal.
You don’t need a calendar to tell you.
