Reflecting on 2021 and Setting a Goal for 2022 (Part 2)
A compassionate approach to goal setting (updated for 2022)
How did Part 1 go for you? Did you discover forgotten memories and experiences from 2021?
Now that we’ve reflected on 2021, let’s consider some questions to generate a little insight. You don’t need to choose goals just yet. We’re getting the lay of the land to help narrow things down..
You may write as little or as much as you’d like. It is okay to put “nothing” as an answer.
What do I have too much of in my life and want to let go of or reduce?
This can be something like stress, or negative people, or self-judgement, or even things like too many ongoing projects.
Consider:
* Maybe you got too much of something in 2021
* What isn’t serving you well? What is taking too much of your precious energy and time?
* Do you have too many commitments or too much on your mind?
* Is it time to make room in your life by doing less and being more??
What do I want more of in my life?
This can be something we already have and want more of, something we used to have and want back, or something new we’d like to introduce into our lives. There are lots of options, but this isn’t about adding a lot of new things either.
Consider:
* What have you missed or lost in 2020–2021 that you can reasonably bring back?
* What has brought you joy in ways you’d like to continue or grow in 2022?
* What are you excited about bringing into your life?
Who needs my attention in 2022?
One way to think about this is to consider others’ needs. Perhaps they are the priority for the first part of 2022. Maybe it’s not about you right now.
What needs to be addressed?
Is there something you’re ready to tackle? Is there something that cannot wait any longer or cannot be ignored anymore?
Consider:
* Is there something you’ve been procrastinating on?
* Are you saying “it’s time” about something?
* Did you put something off due to Covid?
Is it time to stop running?
Is there something you’ve been running from? Is now the time to turn around and face it?
What can wait?
You don’t have to tackle everything. If you already have a long list, you can’t work on everything. Remember, if you’re going to whittle your list down to The. Most. Important. Thing. Right. Now., it means saying “No” to a bunch of other things and that’s okay!
Consider this your “what I’m saying No to for the time being” list. Don’t spend too much time trying to pick the one perfect thing to work on. There will always be more to do.
Warning: this is an easy procrastination trap to fall into.
What do I most want to/need to do?
The key words here are “I most”, which does not mean the things someone else thinks you should be working on. We are here to set a goal for you, given who you are today and what you have to work with right now.
EXTRA (if applicable):
What doesn’t make sense to work on but somehow just feels right?
Ready to make some decisions? Read on to Part 3.
