A few years ago my husband and I started this tradition of writing goals for the New Year with our children on New Year’s Eve. Everyone gets a card after dinner and we each reflect on our personal and family goals. I tuck them away and then the following year we read last year’s goals on New Year’s Day. This year we had our New Year’s Day dinner and I gave everyone their card to read. I glance over and my husband has this look of total disappointment on his face but I do not put much thought into his look, he has high expectations, then I gaze over to the children who seem quite pleased with themselves. My daughter reads hers and she is proud she accomplished two out of her five goals, my son made a few of his and I am happy to report his goal to beat his mom in tennis did not come true in 2011 but I am positive it is coming in the next few months of 2012. I achieved a few of mine as well but my hubby is still looking glum…”none”, he reports. It bothered him; this is a person who has accomplished so much since starting his own company at the age of 25. He was a bit devastated. So this initiated a discussion about setting our goals too high, expecting too much and it got me thinking….
Do we set ourselves up for failure when we reach too high? Should we be more realistic when setting our goals but then are we predisposed for mediocrity? I am not sure and I do not have the perfect answer but I do believe that we tend to feel lost when we don’t define what we want out of life. As humans I think we function best when we have a vision of where we want to go or what we want to achieve. Our goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, rewarding and time bound (SMART).
I had an experience last week that was new for me; I was terrified. I called a friend and said,” Why did I agree to put myself through this?” She replied, “Because it is exciting!” She was right, a little bit of fear, mixed in with excitement, in order to create a life change is a good thing, no, it is a great thing! There was a rush associated with overcoming my fear and venturing into unknown waters. If we don’t ever take a risk, push our boundaries and step out of our little boxes then we just exist. I don’t know about you but I want a little more from this earthly experience.
So as you set out on your journey for 2012, I wish you all the best in meeting your goals and rewarding yourself when they become a reality. I will be right there with you in the trenches, digging deep and trying to make some things happen.
