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 have no idea what the future holds. I have no idea where God will send me or if those places will seem different to many of you. But this I do know: if I do not tell Him wholeheartedly that I am willing to go anywhere He leads and serve anyone He says, He is going to do His good pleasure anyway. And without me." -Beth Moore

As we enter into the new year, I am reflecting on this thought presented by Beth Moore. As we are still without the Army's orders on where we are to go next, Robby and I are in a season of waiting. Not knowing where we will be this year or when we will be there makes it a bit difficult to create goals and expectations for 2017. But I can rest in the fact that God is good and His plan is, too. 

This year, my resolutions are a little less concrete and a little more abstract. 2017 will be the year that I pursue love and eucharisteo in every area of my life - my relationships, my communication, my marriage - and that can be done no matter where I am or what I am doing. I have no idea what the Lord's plan is, and that can be frustrating, but I am purposing in my heart to be willing and obedient to where He leads. 

I pray that this year I will continue to grow, continue to learn, continue to adventure, and continue to pursue a healthy, happy, whole life. My resolution to actively practice love and eucharisteo in the new year ought to aid in the continuing effort to build on top of what I've achieved in 2016. 

What about you? What are your goals and resolutions for the new year? I'd love if we could be praying over each other's as we embark on this new year together!

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