New Year, New Mindset

Happy 2013 to you all!  I'm excited to see what this new year brings me and my family.  I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and mindful new year.

Today I want to discuss setting yourself up for a year of success.  How can you make 2013 the best year for you?  I'm here to help you through that discussion in your head!

First, I find it important to forget everything you wanted to accomplish and did or didn't last year.  Ok, you think I'm crazy!  The reason I ask you to do this is because we're not trying to look back at the past; we're not trying to feel guilty for what didn't work nor toot our own horn for what did.  (Some believe the phrase "toot your own horn" harkens all the way back to Matthew 6:2.  When you do a good deed "...do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do...")  Once you have your mind cleared of all of the things that transpired last year, we can begin.

Now, in order to be successful this year, we need to find things for which we can easily create action plans.  Have you ever heard of SMART goals?  SMART goals are specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, and timely (sometimes also termed "tangible").  Specific goals answer the "W" questions:  who, what, where, when, which (identify any requirements and constraints), and why.  A goal is measureable if you can answer "How much?" or "How many?" or "How will I know it's accomplished?"  Goals are attainable if you can identify previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to their attainment.  A realistic goal is an objective towards which you are willing AND able to work.  A timely goal has a time frame assigned to it, and this can't be "someday," you need to pick a specific date.  If your goal cannot be described with respect to these terms, either alter it so that it is or pick another goal to work on.  Make sure your goal is something that you really want, not just something that sounds good.

Once you have a SMART goal in mind, you need to determine the best course of action to attain it.  Write down your goal and formulate a plan to get you there.  Would you like an example now?

Let's say I have a goal this year to lose weight.  To develop this as a SMART goal, I've chosen the following statement:  I will lose (specific) 50 pounds (measureable) in 52 weeks (timely; attainable & realistic - average healthy weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds per week) by following Weight Watchers and regularly exercising (my basic action plan). 

Now, this is all fine and good, but my plan needs to be more specific so that I can follow particular steps in achieving my goal.  I would next develop my action plan by adding specifics, such as how often I'm going to exercise, what foods I'm going to eat, how I will deal with obstacles like food at special occasions or developing a lack of motivation along my journey.

Let me point out one more thing about my SMART goal.  In case you didn't remember it, I'll state it again:  "I will lose 50 pounds in 52 weeks by following Weight Watchers and regularly exercising."  The MOST important thing about this statement, in my opinion, is that little word "will."  I didn't say that I would try or that I wanted or needed to accomplish this goal.  I directly stated that I will accomplish it.  After all, a positive mindset from the beginning is going to motivate me.  Make sure you address optimism in your goal, too.  It's like starting the day by smiling at yourself in the mirror:  yes, you will laugh at how silly it seems to do this, but you will subconsciously start your day in a positive mindset by performing this simple ritual.  Constructing your goal in a positive tone will merely help you along your journey.

Now that we both have at least one goal for 2013, let's write it down and post it where we most need to see it.  For example, my written goal would probably go near the refrigerator or kitchen.  If your goal is to smile at yourself in the morning, it should go on your bathroom mirror.  You get the idea, I'm sure.  Best of luck on your journey!  Make sure you follow your action plan and tweak it as needed so that you can be successful this year!