How To Set Goals & Reach Them

What's the difference between who we are and who we want to be?

It's a collection of choices and habits that make up our days, and ultimately, our lives.

How do we plan our days so that at the end of the week we can look back and see ourselves living as the people we want be, leading the lives we want to wake up to each day?

Resolutions are about creating habits that build the futures we want to live. 

How am I going to live in 2016, so that I walk into 2017 happier, healthier, and more attune to God's work in my life?

Over the years I've developed a goal-setting system that allows us to create holistic and synergistic goals that touch each area of our lives and the lives around us.

On the top half are personal resolutions aimed at improving our lives spiritually, creatively, physically, and mentally.

What habits can I develop to become spiritually stronger?
More creative?
Physically healthier?
Mentally sharper?

On the bottom half are interpersonal resolutions that impact our own lives as well as those around us in our relationships, careers, and communities.

What habits can I develop to connect deeply to those around me?
Grow professionally?
Become financially stable?
Live generously?

Not only does this format allow us to grow personally, it helps ensure we're stewarding our most valuable resources well: our time and our money.

What changes do we need to make so that our values align with our schedules and our bank accounts?

If you want to set goals that are attainable, ensure they are S.M.A.R.T goals:

S.M.A.R.T. GOALS

Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, Time-bound

As an example, let's take the resolution to get in shape. "Get in shape" isn't specific, measurable, assignable, realistic, or time bound, but let's make it SMART!

Specific - What does getting in shape mean? Eating healthier? Working out? Losing weight? Feeling great?

Measurable - How will you know you're succeeding? By the number of times you got to the gym per week? By the number on the scale? How can you track your progress week over week?

Assignable - Can you reach this goal solo? Do you need buy-in from someone in your home? Do you need to delegate or assign associated tasks to a colleague or partner?

Realistic - Is this goal truly attainable? Is there a definitive finish-line?

Time Bound - When will this occur? When and with what frequency? Can you accomplish this goal in a year's time? If the answer is no, you may want to think about curating a Life List to hold your big dreams. 

If you find my format for resolutions helpful, I've created a free printable worksheet. Please print it and write on it with a pen or open it in a photo editing application and type over it. If this post finds it's way to you at the start of a new year or mid-way through, it's always a great time to redefine success synergistically, according to our values, and the unique purpose God created us to live out.

For more on goal setting, watch the full video walk-through!

The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don’t like to do… They don’t like doing them either necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose. - Albert E.N. Gray from The Common Denominator of Success

I'd love to know what goals and resolutions you set for 2016! Please share in the comments, it's inspiring to walk this out together!

Cheers to redefining success in 2016,
Lisamarie

Comments

[Haydie]

Thank you for Sharing Your goals and the worksheet for us to use. You truly are an inspiration to me I look forward to all the great content you will provide in 2016 and future years :-)

[KRISTEN]

Hi Lisamarie, This is so cute! I'm unable to add it to my cart and download it though. I'm using a MAC, does that mean anything?

thanks!

[Serena]

Great post! I love the printable goal sheet

[Rachel S]

Another "A" I've seen is attainable- as in, is this goal something you can actually attain? Not too far off from your "A" though!

[Paper and Glam]

Hi Rachel, interesting! Then what is "R"?

[Caitlin]

Thank you Lisamarie. I've been looking forward to your resolutions post. The printable is great!!! I hope you don't mind but I already made my own resolutions page to put in my planner - it is kind of modeled off your 2015 one (black background with the groups etc). Please keep yours, would love to use one next year

[Maria]

Hi Lisamarie, "R" can also be reachable. That's the one I've always went with.

[Jenn P]

Thank you the video! I'm fan of your passion for God, and I can wait to get started on your online bible study! You are always working hard to improve the lives of your glam family and I appreciate that! Have a wonderful year! As for goals, I am trying to work on my work schedule so I can attend church. Fitness- I took a job that is physically challenging so my goal is to crockpot more so I'm eating healthier. Professionally - I would like to open an online store. Relationships - work harder to be a positive light to family, friends, and customers. Also new friendships with church family. Organization - use my planner to the full capacity. Purge and organize my stuff.

[Jen in NYC]

THANK YOU!

..just found your channel (and then blog!) over the weekend and have probably watched a dozen videos in the last two days. I've been pretty unfocused (spiritually and otherwise) the last year and am excited to get back on track. Thank you for encouraging me to take the time and be thoughtful in how I spend my days, plan my life and actually take care of me (which too often has come last in the list of things to do.) Looking forward to joining you all on this journey in 2016.

[Hunter]

Is there any chance that you will be doing this for 2017? The printable in the back of Life Planner really helped me to stay focused.

[Elizabeth]

Thank you for always being an encouragement!