It is that time of the year in which we review what we have done, our successes, achievements and, failures. At the same time we start setting resolutions and new goals. We are filled with the impression that the new year, as if it was an entity, will bring something new to us. We might even feel like the world is under our renewed energies and then as the weeks pass something happens... our resolutions are gone and forgotten.
How can we then set goals that are meaningful? Filled with so much meaning that we cannot forget or postpone them?
The only way for us to meet goals is to connect them to something that is meaningful for ourselves, our organisation and customers. For a goal to be meaningful it needs to be connected to something bigger: values and purpose.
We have two incredibly powerful resources to tap into and find meaning in: conceptual and emotional knowledge. We over-value conceptual knowledge over emotional knowledge. As a result we are experiencing an epidemic of over-thinking and associate meaning only with reasoning and logic. This epidemic has led us to lots of pain and misery.
Goal setting should be a joyful and exciting experience. Goal review should feel like a celebration and give us a better and more profound understanding of how we are doing and where we are headed.
Do you feel this way? Or do you feel anxious and maybe even bored when having to go through goal setting and their review?
Behind this pain and misery precious desires hide. The desire to create something better and to make a difference. To connect with those desires, that point us directly to our purpose and values, we need to be willing to connect with our feelings.
In a society that separates feelings into positive and negative and, that values only positive feelings, in face of what we perceive as negative we default into coping mechanism; everything rather than feeling and having to face or process them. This leads to the notorious failure of New Year’s Resolutions just few weeks after we have firmly set them.
What if instead we would create space and time to go deeper into our exploration of the values and purpose at the foundation of our goals? Deeper into what we feel?
These are some of the practices that have supported my exploration:
Journaling (few minutes every day to start with) to gain more awareness on what you want, your desires, your triggers. Journaling and establishing a practice of reviewing those journals give precious information and understanding that lead into finding patterns and deeper meaning.
Self-Inquiry to clarify how you feel and how you want to feel. What activities or projects make you feel the way you want to feel? Those are your gifts, that when used and put into action energise rather than deplete.
Space making for those activities that support the way you want to feel. Anything that prevents it needs to be gone or reduced.
What did I find through these practices? A file rouge that helps me set my goals and connect with my quest for Integration, Inclusion and Innovation (3I model and founding pillars of ReNEWBusiness) to create a more Human Business.
Now is your turn: what’s the meaning and value that lies behind your resolutions?
Do not forget to define success on your own terms. Success is an individual and evolving state of being rather than a goal to achieve. It must align with your vision and values. It needs to serve your world in meaningful ways. Make sure, to succeed, to design a personal practice in support of your resolutions and goals. It needs to support you not make it more difficult for you.
If you need any support in setting up and successfully achieve your resolutions invest in a 4-week self-paced course on Elevating New Year’s Resolutions. A supportive and deliberate process than enables you to re-create joy, feel fulfilled and inspired rather than stressed or exhausted by your own goals. It is a practice that takes into account your unique humanity intimately, not mine or anyone else. It reconnects you with who you innately are, what you want and how you function. More info on the course and how to subscribe can be found here.
Inquire on how to apply the 3I model to your organisation, and ReNEW how you do business. If you’re interested to learn more about our knowledge and experience and discuss how we could help through our consultancy, workshops, and talks, drop us a line at fateme@rnewb.com.