Setting Your Theme for the New Year

January is the month for goals and resolutions. No matter what’s happened in the past, how you’ve set out to achieve your goals, whether or not you’ve achieved all your goals, we’re starting a brand new year. Setting meaningful goals can provide you with more clarity with decisions you make every day and increase your overall satisfaction in life. However, the process can be daunting for many people.

Here’s one simple way to go about setting your goals. Look at things you’ve achieved in previous years and put those accomplishments into different segments of your life – health, career, family, friends, relationship, spirituality, community, hobbies, etc. Notice which bucket needs a bit more attention or TLC this year? Then create your goal with that theme in mind. For example, if you want to focus more on the family bucket, then your theme this year could be healing old wounds or strengthening the relationships in your family.

Or you can work backwards! Start by writing down both small and big goals you’ve wanted to achieve – things you can start this year. As you write down your goals, see if there is a common theme that links a lot of them together, and make that your theme for the year.

Once you have your theme, your goal-setting and decision making will be easier. You’ll start to see if things fall in alignment with what your overarching idea is for the year.  The year is simply a benchmark of measurement. In reality, we’re changing and evolving every day, every minute, every second. So instead, I like to say: new year, evolved you.