Living with purpose – 5 things you need to know about setting goals

With the turn of the New Year, I’ve read and loved plenty of posts about setting goals and making plans that stick throughout the year. While I am a big believer in goal-setting (I shared my own in this blog post last week), I’m also anticipating that 2016 will be a season of transition and change in my life.

So while setting goals to help me stay on track, I’m also keeping the flip side of goal-setting in mind, and having an open mind to whatever may come; the world is my oyster and I am remembering to be open to the possibilities and opportunities that 2016 will bring.

Here’s what I’m remembering as I measure out my goals and work through them this year:

1. Be realistic.

   Set goals that are challenging, yet achievable. Don’t set yourself up for failure.

2. Don’t be afraid to fail.

   This year, I might “fail” at achieving my goals. But regardless of what happens, I want to look back on the year and know that I tried my best and worked hard to achieve my goals, even if I don’t end up fully achieving them. As I’ve been told, don’t be afraid to fail; be afraid to not try.

3. Be flexible.

   Life is bound to change, and when it does and the goals you made earlier are no longer relevant to your life, don’t be afraid to adjust your goals to suit whatever you are going through at that time.

4. Know your priorities.

   I have so many things I want to do and achieve. But in line with being realistic, I’ve sorted through and prioritized my list of goals to achieve what matters most.

5. Enjoy the ride.

   There is a sense of accomplishment in achieving goals. But it isn’t just about the end result of achieving goals as much as it is about the journey, the process, and how I learn and grow from it all.

How are you doing with your 2016 goals, twelve days into the new year? Let me know in the comments!

Here’s to 2016 being the best year yet. I’ve got a good feeling about this.