Grace Essen

By Grace Essen

Year 2017 is here and leaping, already. And from what I see, lots of people are already up and running with the new year. As expected holiday makers are rushing back to their base, and school children are getting ready to get back to school, of course wishing the holiday could last a little longer. It’s pretty much busy just like it was at the end of the previous year.

As usual we all have made New Year Resolutions, well, most of us. Some will not call it that for some reasons, but would prefer to go with ‘New Year Goals’, different strokes for different folks, the idea basically is to make the new year better than the last.

Some write down their goals or resolutions (always a good idea), others prefer to have them in their heads – what matters is that we all have some form of goals for the new year no matter how vague. And then eventually most of us would need some help or prodding of some kind to get us off the couch to follow through with our new year resolutions or goals as the case may be.

Today increasing number of people are dumping the idea of setting goals or making new year resolutions, there are many reasons for this. Soon after making new year resolutions many are not able to keep up, and when that happens over and over they wonder why they should make resolutions they can’t keep anyway. Others are afraid they may not be able to achieve their goals so they prefer not to set any goals than feel like failures. A majority put off setting new year goals or resolutions for sometime in the future and that never happens. Of course some do not have any ambitions whatsoever, and they feel that setting goals could upset their seemingly ‘comfortable life’ and they avoid it. Yet another category of people desire to or would love to set goals for the new year but don’t know how to go about it, they need help and a step-by-step guidance on how to set goals and follow through to achieve them, children fall into this category.

It is our duty as parents to teach our children to set goals and help them follow through with their goals. This is a life skill they would need all through life. But how can we effectively teach our children if we don’t practice goal setting, and they don’t see us follow through on set goals?

The following piece was sent to me via social media. I really can’t say for sure who the author is, however I find it simple and helpful to get you started with setting and organizing your goals, while giving us a fresh perspective to the new year.

Remember, there is really nothing called a NEW YEAR… every year is same number of days, weeks and months (except for a LEAP Year).

What then makes a NEW YEAR? Very simple… It‘s a NEW YOU!!!

A NEW YOU will determine and define a NEW YEAR.

What is Your PDP (Personal Development Plans) for 2017?

You need a detailed, well-structured, articulated and written plan, which you must be loyal and committed to in 2017.

Your PDP Format must include:

1. Spiritual development (Moving from relationship to quality fellowship with your God and Creator)

2. How many mind-enhancing books are you going to read (weekly, monthly or quarterly)

3. Professional and career advancement seminars, conferences or workshops to attend (paid or free)

4. Mentors and Coaches you must connect with, that will add great value to your life

5. Relevant Skills to develop or sharpen to enhance your ability to serve and earn

6. Network or associations to join that will serve as leverages

8. What products, or services will you be creating this year to multiply impact and improve income

9. Negative relationships or friendships to sever from or cut off

10. Wise and intelligent investments to be involved in this year

11. Negative habits, attitudes and behaviours to deal with

12. Positive habits, attitudes and behaviours that must be cultivated.

It is so easy to get carried away with our desire to make more money and acquire new assets we focus our goals around business and career and we forget to make a life. Our children are sleeping when we leave for work. They are sleeping when we come home. Twenty years down the line, we turn around, we don’t see them. They are all gone. No family left, and we ask, how come?

When we set goals and make plans for the new year, they should be balanced and accommodate areas we so easily neglect in the course of achieving these goals, like family, our health, social and spiritual life. It would help a great deal to from time to time slow down and spend time with the very ones we claim to work very hard for, to create unforgettable moments, to share a laughter, to receive a smile of encouragement or a pat on the back when it is most needed.

Check out Grace’s blog @Mum2MumAfrica.com
You may reach Grace on 08061367203, or via email: [email protected].
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