Goals: Pathways to Lasting Change
Can I tell you a joke? “New Year, New Me.” Get it? It’s a great theory, but how many people actually stick with their commitment? I know I’m guilty of giving up on more than one resolution. Did you know there’s a way that we can be SMART about our goals for the next year?
Let’s learn together!
Working Hand in Hand
Everyone’s heard of or has had a New Year’s resolution at some point in their lives. They are great tools and starting blocks, but don’t automatically produce lasting change. Resolutions often lack proper accountability, rarely specifying an end date. Goals, on the other hand, are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Be SMART
Specific: Organize your priorities and define what’s important to you. The first step in achieving a goal is a desire for the result. To get specific, determine the “how” of your goal. What are the middle steps to help you get what you’re seeking?
Measurable: How do you make a goal measurable? Set milestones! Benchmarks make the journey to results more manageable. For example, when pursuing financial health, break down the full amount into partial payments – progress over perfection!
Achievable: You have talked about and written down a change you want to make; now it’s time to focus. Motivation is fleeting, but discipline can be developed. How passionate are you about changing?
Relevant: Relevant goals fit within the context of your life. Be passionate, stay persistent, and make it personal – what if the next year is the best you’ve ever experienced?
Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” The God of last year is going to continue to do great things.
Time Bound: Be decisive. What do you want to achieve, and when do you want to achieve it? Finding a trusted friend to join you can help keep both of you accountable.
Hope for the Future
At Echoing Hills, we strive to guide and educate individuals with disabilities, helping them develop life skills that help empower them to live independent and meaningful lives.
Part of this involves encouraging goal setting for personal growth. Individuals learn how to be SMART when planning for their future.
https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/smart-goal/
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2043&version=NIV
