We’re eight days into January and it seems like all I read about is habit building, resolution setting, and how wellness is the key to my happiness. Now don’t get me wrong, I rock a daily plan, have a gratitude journal, I even review every week religiously for my wins and areas of improvement. And I always have annual goals.
I thought goal planning for 2021 would be difficult. For a while, it really felt like 2020 had stole my spirit. Towards the back half of the year, the mantras that I live by day-to-day took a little longer to work, my heart and mind were weary.
So many people around me experienced fear, anxiety, economic loss, hardship and pain around social issues and politics. I tried to compartmentalize and help where I could but, like many others, it was hard not to feel exasperated many days.
We cannot change the past. Much of what happened in 2020 was simply beyond our control. Fighting with what happened is an unwinnable argument.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
But you know what we can control, friend? How we respond in the present to position us for success in the future. Right here, right now – these present moments are the only ones that really matter.
It can be hard to know how to make the most of the present when you don’t know which direction to start walking. This is where your Life List comes in.
Think about things you want to accomplish in your your life. Think big. What do you think you’d regret if you never gave it a shot? What adventures do you want to experience? What makes you really, really feel alive? What do you dream about?
Writing these dreams and goals down, is a powerful motivator, both consciously and unconsciously. Don’t judge the ideas that come to mind, just let them flow freely from your mind and on to your paper.
Take a look at those goals and say aloud: “I am capable of achieving all of these. If I want them badly enough, I will make it happen. I am unstoppable.”
Even if you don’t believe those words right now – one day you will. Keep repeating it until you do.
Come back to your list every so often and pick a goal. Then, make smaller goals that will help you get there. Repeat the process until you have actionable steps that you can begin in the present moment. Work up from there.
In one, five or ten years time, it will be pretty neat looking back at all that you’ve accomplished. In fact, I just uncovered my life list from 20 years ago! Man, that was fun to look back on. I am a lefty and arthritic, so no hand writing critics please!
I like to create lists for each of the important aspects of my life. I have an adventure (Fun) list for travel and hobbies, Physical (Body) list for athletic goals, like hiking the Appalachian Trail or running a 5K.
These things come naturally to me so they are always the ones I fill out first. But make sure you consider all the life categories to cover all the areas of your life. Some things for my Mind and Spirit, like taking time off or training for a new skill, are important for my overall well-being but take more thought.
Get the idea? So whether you create a list for each category or list them all in one master list, get out of your comfort zone and consider the areas of your life that you may be neglecting. It will lead to a more fulfilling outcome as you begin to tackle your Life List.
2021 is the year to dream again. So, what will you start dreaming about?
Until next time,
Chris
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