I will admit it, it took me longer this year to do it, but I finally did it! For the past several years, I have taken a day, free from family, business, and other distractions (not that my family is a distraction, but you know what I mean) between Christmas and New Years to just be alone and plan out my goals for the coming year. This is a time when I feel no outside pressure, but can just spend some time reflecting on the past year and pondering where I want to take my life in the coming one. Many people would call this activity ‘setting New Year’s resolutions,’ but it is so much more than that to me. I am not just putting goals on a piece of paper to tape to the mirror (though there is nothing wrong with that if it works for you). This is making a plan for my life and trying to do it in connection with what I think the Universe has in store for me… if I will but put forth the effort to receive it.
This year, I was enjoying the holidays with my family and just could not get into right mindset. On New Year’s Eve, I was sitting alone with my wife (while my teenagers hosted a party for approximately 50 of their friends in the other room), and said to her, “I do not know what it is, but I cannot seem to get into the right mindset this year. I know I should lay out my vision for 2015, but I do not feel motivated to do so in the least.” I am sure her advice was wise, as usual, but it did not change my situation. With the party going on, we went to bed way too late and slept in way too long for middle-aged people.
The next morning, New Years Day, dawned bright and clear and so did my mind. When I woke up, I had no desire to do anything else except lay out my plans for 2015. Funny how things can change so quickly. Without anything else planned for the day, I took the day for myself. I found a quiet place, barricaded myself away from everyone else, and went to work. I reviewed my vision from 2014, pondered my Mortal Mission and long-term goals for life, and then set about envisioning what the next year would look like for me. I made plans for my life in five categories; Physical, Financial, Mental, Social, and Spiritual.
As is my habit, rather than write down my goals in a list, I incorporated them into a Vision Story that I will be able to review frequently throughout the year. My Vision Story always begins with the end of the year in mind. It is dated December 31, 2015, and begins with this sentence “I am so happy and grateful for all I have been able to accomplish this year!” The last sentence of my Vision Story (a little over 200 words total) is “Overall, I am in a much better place financially, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually than I was at this time last year.” That is how I plan my 2015 success. How about you?
Dustin Harris, Creating ‘Value’ for Real Estate Appraisers
3 thoughts on “2015 Success”
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That sounds like an excellent overall plan. Simple, but to to the point. I need to do the same and also get my physical being back into shape after liver surgery. It give you time to think and go over your life, and what time you have left in the future to reach you goals. Good luck on yours as they are obtainable.
I’ve had to relearn the old adage; People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan after suffering a coma resulting from cutting a deer in 1/2 with a motorcycle. It took me a long time to put an overall plan back into action. Now I plan each step and verify the level of success of every step taken, because of my coma affected memory and this time I’ve taught myself to stop and smell the coffee, take a moment to enjoy the view or the moment, one step at a time! Live to day, but plan for tomorrow. one verified step at a time!