Setting SMART Goals

We are halfway through January, so I have to ask... How are your resolutions looking? Did you even create resolutions for yourself? Do you know if those resolutions you brainstormed are attainable?

Antoine de Saint-Exupery once said, "A goal without a plan is just a wish." If there is something you want to do, it is imperative to set yourself up for success by creating a plan for achieving that goal. One of the most popular and successful methods of goal-setting is the SMART method. Setting SMART goals means setting goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and within a set time frame. 

A specific goal must answer who, what, when, where, why, and which? A measurable goal must answer how many, how much, and how will I know when it’s accomplished? To create an attainable goal, you must ask yourself, “how will I make your goal come true?” and figure out what skills, attitudes, and capabilities you have to develop. Realistic goals must have to be something you are willing and able to achieve. Finally, SMART goals are timely. You must set a realistic time frame to increase your sense of urgency.

I don't mean to offer a lecture here. I just want to make sure each of you know that there is an effective way to set goals for yourself!

I saw some resolutions this year like "read more," "get in shape," or "take time to travel". Those are awesome ideas! However, I would assert that a more effective way of phrasing those things would be something like, "Read one new book each month," "Run a 5K in December," or "Plan a trip to Spain for this summer." Make each goal specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound!

Then for each of those goals, there are steps to take to achieve them. There has to be a plan. In order to run a 5K by the end of the year, you may need to 1. buy running shoes in January, 2. spend 30 minutes running each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 3. sign up for a 5K, etc. 

Another goal guideline that I suggest using is having a maximum of about three goals for yourself at a time. Setting too many goals at once makes it hard to remember and usually creates too much to work to do at once. Also, I believe it's important to make sure you have people in your life to hold you accountable. This could be a friend, your family members, a mentor, a life coach, etc. Finally, I would suggest that your goals be tangible. You should be able to feel, hear, touch, smell, or see their goal when it’s accomplished.

Goals are central to life coaching. As a coach, it is my job to understand how to formulate goals and how to coach my clients to achieve them. If you are looking toward 2018 and hoping for change in your life, consider setting SMART goals for yourself so you can create that change you seek. If you need some assistance at all, consider hiring a life coach to turn your visions and dreams into a reality! 

The Health of My Heart

The response to my last post, “Surrender,” has been unbelievable. So many precious people have reached out to me and offer me encouragement. Several others reached out to share their similar and extremely painful experiences. Even more reached out to check up on how I am doing. I have been overwhelmed by love and I have felt the weight of every broken heart. To every single person who has reached out - who has expressed love, support, grace, pain, brokenness, etc. - I thank you.

To give an update on the health of my heart - I am happy to report that I am doing very well!

Though the last six months have been peppered with the pain and torment of divorce, I have also experienced so much joy and growth. Every day is a new challenge, as always, but I feel altogether healthy. I have spent a great deal of time this summer and fall seeking out the whole, happy, healthy life I strive to help others find. I have been purposely pursuing total health - relationally, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

On my journey to find healing, I have gotten to travel a lot (to Memphis, Nashville, Kentucky, Hot Springs, Austin, and Italy). I have plugged into The Porch at Watermark. I’ve made a lot of new friends and reconnected with old ones. I’ve spent hours and hours in counseling. I finished my Master’s degree. I became a Certified Christian Life Coach. I started to substitute teach. I’m eating healthier and staying active (I’ve lost about 20 pounds!) I am writing again. I am dating someone.

In the last six months, I have spent a lot of time hurting. But I have also spent a lot of time healing.

Thank you to all who have reached out to me to check on me. Thank you all for loving me well and giving me so much grace. I also appreciate each of you being patient as I took a sudden and unexpected step back from blogging and coaching. Now that I am feeling healthy and happy again, I feel much more comfortable offering my coaching services and wisdom via writing. (So check out my Coaching Services page and let’s get you into some coaching sessions!)

You are all amazing. I am so thankful to have a place to grow alongside all of you. I am so glad to know we are all in this together - pursuing health, wellness, healing, and happiness. It is humbling to me that you all let me be vulnerable and transparent as we journey together!

As always, you can expect more posts from me regarding how I attempt to practice what I preach. In the meantime, focus on the joy of the Lord and ask Him what it looks like to seek a whole, happy, healthy life. If there's anything I can offer to you so I can spur you on in that way - let me know!

I was first introduced to the concept of eucharisteo when I was about 18 or so. I think I came across it in a blog post or online article of some sort, but I'm not sure where exactly. Most likely, it was something by Ann Voskamp, but I'm not certain. What I remember is immediately feeling challenged, encouraged, and inspired by the idea of living a life around the concept. Since then, I've studied it, meditated on it, started (but never actually finished) the Ann Voskamp book about it, and now I've tattooed it on my body. 

Eucharisteo is the greek word for thanksgiving. Within it, is the greek word charis, meaning grace, and it's root word chara, which means joy. I love that this one word encapsulates all three concepts of thanksgiving, grace, and joy. I also love that Jesus himself spoke it. Luke 22 says that when in the upper room with His disciples, he took the bread, he eucharisteo (or gave thanks), he broke it, and he gave it to them saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." (This is where the catholic church gets the word eucharist.) 

To me, this word means that the root of true joy is found in having thanksgiving for the grace we've been given in Christ. 

A life of eucharisteo is a life lived with an attitude of gratitude, full of gracious communication, and a constant pursuit of true joy in Christ. Having eucharisteo tattooed on my wrist is my constant ministry to myself and to others around me. It is my overarching life goal and my resolution in 2017 to live a life of eucharisteo. I'll let you know how it goes!

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After a year working as a communication consultant at Call Box (an awesome software company in downtown Dallas) I've finally returned to my career as a homemaker!

Call me an anti-feminist (actually don't, let's have that conversation another day), but I love being in the home. I love being busy cooking and cleaning and sewing and baking and fixing and growing and organizing and all of it! I love being home to care for my puppy, having dinner ready for Robby when he comes home, and having the laundry and dishes cleaned and put away. I also love the freedom I have to plan out my day and to do what I think is best for me and for my family. 

As much as I love working, I struggled to find a good work/life balance. When Robby was sick, I wanted to stay home and take care of him. When a family crisis was occurring, I wanted to go and help. When my house was a complete wreck, I felt guilty leaving it for another day. I feel called to manage my home well and I was not good at keeping up with that and my work responsibilities. I just couldn't do both with complete excellence.

It's only day 2 of being a homemaker again, but in the time I've been home, I've been able to make two delicious dinners, go for a jog, reorganize my kitchen, do some laundry, practice some yoga, wash the dishes, make a killer sopapilla cheesecake, vacuum the house, clean out my fridge, play with my puppy, and spend some quality time with my husband.

Perhaps most importantly, I've written out a list of goals I'd like to work on: 

• I will create a joyful home for my family to live in
• I will pursue a healthy lifestyle - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually
• I will practice hospitality - inviting guests over at least twice a month
• I will continue to revaluate and minimize our possessions
• I will make time to exercise creativity every day
• I will rest responsibly and biblically, not by leaning into laziness

This is what I'm working on today. This is what I'm pursuing. And boy, am I excited!