Goals and a New Year Part 2

In yesterdays notes I spoke about how I have learned to look at goals and reviewing where you have been.
Recently I have been looking for a more effective method and one of the ways I have found is by using the four questions I put down yesterday as a starting point.
Just to review they are:
1- What is important to you?
2- What are you biggest concerns?
3- What went well for you this past year?
4- What did not go so well for you this year?
Before we get into the nut and bolts of goals and planning a year ahead that will help bring you closer to your objectives, I will give you my thoughts on what these four questions mean to me.

1- What is important to you?  For me this question asks what are you willing to sacrifice and work and sweat for?  If you don't know the answer to this question, and it does not have to be one thing it can be a list of up to six, anything more than six and you will find yourself overwhelmed, then if you don't have an answer take the time to think about what matters most to you.  It could be getting published, or having financial security in a certain amount of cash, or being a better parent, whatever your list of life important items you need to identify them so you are moving in that direction with your goals or you will have conflict that keeps you from accomplishing your important goals.

2- What are you biggest concerns?  I have always found that my biggest concerns or worries are the inverse of my most important goals.  Sometimes identifying your biggest concerns helps you identify your most important goals.  For example if my biggest concern is always about financial security, one of my most important goals is very likely to resolve this situation.  Thinking about this can really help you identify your most important goals.

3- What went well for you this past year?  This helps to define what worked and what you can feel good about.  These are the things that help build your belief in yourself and your goals.

4- What did not go so well for you this year?  This can seem a little like a downer, but it will help you to identify what needs work and perhaps what needs to be stroked off the list.  If I keep finding myself  doing poorly in say finances, then I need to examine this more closely.  I don't need to beat myself up about it, but I do need to realise that perhaps I need help from an expert, or I need to make a stronger commitment to that goal.  These are not meant as a list for you to have a pity party or to be beating yourself  up with this list, it is meant to make sure you have your eyes wide open to what is working and what is not.

In tomorrows blog I will take this to the next step in starting to pull everything together.