I think lists can be helpful tools for moving dreams forward, especially as we move into 2017. Open-ended questions can help, yet I think lists help the reflection process as well. Hope this list below gets your dreams going and turning into reality for 2017.
- Review 2016.
What did you learn from it? Take your best lessons into 2017 and leave the rest behind. Ask for the godly wisdom you need to sort between what was helpful and what needs to stay in 2016.
- Believe 2017 can be different than 2016.
Ask yourself, “What mindset may be keeping me from moving forward in 2017?” Listen for the little voice inside of you. “You can’t do that, it’s not perfect.” “You don’t have time to make a change.” “You don’t have enough money.” Your brain actually likes to sabotage you into thinking you can’t. Be like the Little Engine that Could. “I think I can, I think I can” by recognizing the messages you are sending yourself.
- Start dreaming with a vision board.
A vision board is your opportunity to listen to your heart. You physically begin to pick pictures that reflect the desires and longings of your heart and mount them on a board to see daily. I do vision board workshops that lead you in the process. Once you begin visualizing, your brain helps you see more opportunities, much like once you buy a particular type of car, you see that car on the road.
- Set one goal in 3 areas of your life.
What are you feeling strongest about from your vision board or your pondering –work, physical self care, family and/or friends (social), spiritual or emotional? Which goals will help you feed your soul? Choose three areas of your life that will help you feel most grounded.
- Design a measurable, motivating action step for each goal.
What action will you actually put into place that moves you closer to you goal for the next 90 days? What will help make it motivating?
- Determine how you will measure those action steps.
How will you track your progress? Measure at the end of the month how you did. If you are having a challenge with an action step, take a look back to see what is interfering. Is it a mindset issue? Was it too much to do? Celebrate the progress you did make. Baby steps!
- Attach your action step to a habit you are already doing.
For example, if you brush your teeth at night and want to add laying out your clothes in the evening because you would be less stressed in the morning, then do so when you brush your teeth. At work, if you want to plan your ideal week, then attach it to your Monday morning planning before anything else occurs. According to research by James Clear, by tying the new habit to something that is already occurring, you up the odds of the new action being accomplished.
- Review at the end of 90 days.
See if the goals you wanted to achieve actually occurred. How did you do? Did this move you closer to you dream for 2017? If so, celebrate. If not, then reflect on what you want to do differently for the next 90 days. The helpful part of a 90 day cycle is there is a start to get you excited, time to accomplish something and a deadline at the end of 90 days to push you forward.
- Reflect on this process.
What is working for you? What is making a difference for your dream, desires and longings? How are you feeling about your progress?
What obstacles are getting in your way? Could time to create a vision board be helpful? If so, join the Discover Your Dreams Vision Board Workshop on January 21st. If that date doesn’t work, yet you’re still interested, shoot Nancy an email to get on the next session list. Or perhaps discussing your year with a coach to gain clarity could be helpful. Clarity inside your own head is often hard to come by! Or joining a small facilitated goal setting group might be encouraging? If so, contact Nancy@nancyboothcoaching.com to see what resources can best fit your needs. Make 2017 the best year yet!
Nancy Booth is a certified life coach and certified brain-based coach. She loves creating safe spaces for women going through life’s transitions to discover and support their visions for health and well-being in an overwhelming world, explore possibilities for next steps and find hope. She writes about taming the overwhelm and reducing stress, looking for ways to motivate, energize and inspire you! You can sign up to receive her weekly blog or contact her to find out ways you can begin to shed overwhelm and stress. It’s time to explore possibilities of new relationships, better life pacing and gain hope and peace.