Living Well Intentionally
A new year begins. It is time to reset and embrace the renewal that every beginning brings. A blank page is before us, on which everything remains to be written. It's also an opportunity to improve our ways and do better than yesterday. Any new construction requires a plan which might include a visual representation of the building and a detailed list of steps and resources needed to get to the finished structure. This is what living intentionally is about: having a vision for life and building it progressively, by achieving goals one at a time.
Why is it important to have goals?
1. To move forward in all areas of life
Life is on the move, and nothing really stands still. Without intentional effort, the natural state of things is in decline. If we stop tidying up our homes, dust, and clutter quickly set in. If we stop working out, we lose flexibility, muscle mass and run the risk of gaining weight. If we analyze each sphere of our lives, we will certainly find areas for improvement: to become a better parent, to perfect our professional skills, and to maintain relationships. Setting specific goals in each area of life and working towards them is like following the blueprints to guide our construction.
2. To be more successful in life
Success has different meanings for different people. But one thing is certain, success comes from diligent and consistent work. Achieving a vision is a daily effort, and each day has its goals, its pains, and its successes. In his book The Psychology of Achievement, Brian Tracy describes a successful person as being goal-oriented, results-driven, action-oriented, and self-disciplined. All of these qualities require diligence and intentionality.
3. To avoid regrets
Each human being has unique talents and abilities. How many times have we heard older relatives express regret about past opportunities? How many could have become great musicians, writers, or entrepreneurs? When we choose not to stretch our capacity and develop our potential, we stay in a comfort zone… and we may end up having regrets.
Having goals is one thing, setting the right goals is another.
It is by setting good goals that we can achieve them. Here are some tips to help tackle our goals in 2022.
1. Understand our why
Understanding our 'why' is recognizing that we exist for a specific reason. The sense of purpose highlights the motivation behind our choices. It also allows us to understand our goals and their alignment with our life mission. It keeps us collected and focused.
2. Visualize the result
"We cannot be, what we cannot see.” - Tova Kreps, President of Wellspring Counseling. Imagination is the key to creation. By imagining what our goals lead us to become, we stimulate our motivation to achieve them. Reading about role models and creating vision boards are great ways to visualize our desired results.
3.Establish small achievable goals
Start small and break down big goals into small steps. Accomplishing simple goals will keep us motivated and strengthen our desire to push through in achieving our vision.
4. Build habits around your goals
Having multiple goals will require discipline, patience, and determination. In today’s busy life, it helps to build regular practices around the accomplishment of these objectives. Habits determine 95% of a person's behavior. By developing habits around our goals, and by integrating them into our daily routine, we are sure to truly change our lifestyle. A little bit every day can go a long way.
5. Become a “good-enough-ist” rather than a perfectionist:
Failures will come, and we will not always keep the same motivation. Showing up and doing your best every day – whatever that looks like – is what matters.
Living an intentional life, rather than being led by circumstances, gives us a better sense of control over our environment and over ourselves. Wherever we set our goals, that is where we will end up, which is why it is important to attend to them. It is true self-care to invest in building a more purposeful and fulfilling life.
Listen to this week's podcast entitled:
Listen in as Tova Kreps, LCSW, and Lindsey Steffen, LMHC, talk about being intentional about living well in the new year.