Ah, another New Year's Day has come and gone. The holiday decorations are being taken down. The holiday break is over. The kids are returning to school and our household routines are getting back on track.
The new year brings with it a time for reflection. A time to review our accomplishments and progress on goals from the year before. It is also a time to reflect on those things that did not go so well.
I've got to be honest with you, I don't even remember what my New Years resolutions were from last year. I guess that is a good indication of how important they were to me. I actually cringe when I hear the word "resolution." Why is it that they are so hard to stick to? Maybe it is because there is usually no plan to support it.
Being a social worker, I am used to working within the framework of goals versus resolutions.
What is the difference you may ask? Goals identify an area of need or desired change with action steps to support the change. Here's an example:
Goal: To live a healthy lifestyle.
Objectives or Action Steps:
1) I will lose 10 pounds.
2) I will go for a walk at lest three times a week.
3) I will join a gym.
See the difference? My typical resolutions are vague, e.g., "I'm gonna be a better parent." I think that may have been my resolution last year...hmmmm. Anyhow, despite my experience in setting goals and objectives, I never seem to do that with my own personal goals. Self-sabotage perhaps?!
Well, I've deemed 2007 the year that I live without regrets. Does this mean I'm going to bungee jump off a bridge? No, I don't think so. I have taken my obligatory moment to reflect on 2006 and have decided that if I were to die tomorrow, I would have lots of regrets about how I spent my time. I've discussed this in previous posts about balance and the like, but it is time to put some action steps behind these goals.
We'll continue this discussion in future posts, but in the meantime, I would be curious to know what your biggest regrets are. Please share!
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