People Who Write Goals KEEP THEM! (Shocker)

I’ll never forget the little snippet I read in a Reader’s Digest Magazine a few years ago which argued that people who write down their goals are 85% more likely to actually follow through on them.

For the past 3 years I’ve been writing my yearly goals, with some level of success at accomplishing them. Having my birthday on December 30 is a pretty killer combo for me. Another calender year & another year of living feels like a friggin’ incredible opportunity to start over on whatever things I’ve managed to ignore the year before.

For my current, 34th year of existence, one of my major goals was to complete a 1st draft manuscript of the memoir I’m working on. I still have to work really hard for the next 21 days, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to hit my goal! It was very very very difficult to do this year, so you have no idea how gratifying it is to know I did it.

York’s Advice for Yearly Goals

When I was but a wee lad, 19 years old in college, my InterVarsity staff worker, York told me that every year I should plan to teach myself a new thing. He argued that adding new skills was a necessary part of growing into maturity. I didn’t really listen to York –sadly– until several years after I got of college. In part, I didn’t know who I was or what I loved.

But now, I’ve got a grip on who I am, albeit slippery. I have been actively trying to teach myself a yearly-ish trade for about 5 years now. Since both my kiddo’s are under 6, I’ve had grace on myself. I don’t require myself to learn one new thing a year or else beat myself up to a bloody pulp. Some things have taken 2-3 years. The point is, I keep growing, keep evolving as a human being, as a Jesus-follower, as a wifey, as a Mama, etc. Steady, consistent growth is the key to this discipline. Some things have been easier than others. Running a marathon, for example was easier because it had a very tangible finish. An actual finish line! I wrote it down, I did it. Ba da bom ba da bing –done! Other things require much grace & patience.

You Should Love Your Yearly Goals

When I think about the things I’ve taught myself in the past few years I can just look at the list and smile. In the past few years, I made it a priority to teach myself to be a better writer, to grow my blog and to write a book while learning all I could of the publishing world. In 2008, I started my goal of getting a Master’s degree but soon realized it’s too big and too complicated to do while my kiddo’s are little, so I removed it from the list. For now. There’s no stress or fretting about something that doesn’t fit in my life nor make me a healthier person. Eventually, it will move from the Someday/Maybe list to which it’s been banished.

The truth is, I just didn’t love it enough to justify keeping it on the list. For now. Writing & blogging – I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Seriously. I LOVE to do these things.

As you consider next year, think about trying to teach yourself something you really, really (really) enjoy doing.

Write Down Your Yearly Goal

Heading into my 35th birthday (wowzer!) & 2012 I’m keeping on the list:

Growing as a Writer
Growing my Blog
Creating a FINAL manuscript for my book & the push toward publication

I’m adding:

Photography – (yay)! I’m selling my old camera & hoping to upgrade to a SLR camera.

I’ve been tossing this idea around because I love taking pictures and as a blogger –like it or not– quality pictures are a part of the ball game. I only have this one as a *new* thing because as you can see my first three keep me PLENTY busy. Who knows, maybe my 2013 goal will include starting my own photography company or teaching myself coding & web design??? =)

Here are some things I’d love to add, but have decided to be realistic:

Teaching myself to add zillions or sisterlocks to my hair
Making clothes for R1 (the 6 yr. old) or myself.
Starting my own Etsy store with crafty goodness.

Of course, my yearly plan for 2012 will have a lot more elements, but learning photography falls specifically into the learn-a-new-thing-every-year category ala, York.

Either case, I’m writing it here & I’ll be writing it out in my official, “2012 Plans & Goals.”