Christmas seems a distant memory and it is nearly the end of January. For those of us who made New Year’s Resolutions, it is highly probably that the majority of us have already long forgotten that resolution. The research tells us that in fact NYR only last between 3 hours and 3 weeks for 98% of us.
Every year, we engage in this ritual. We pick a single point in time each year to try and make a huge life decision, (usually with little thought or planning). We aim to change our attitudes and our behaviour through a brief moment of reflection at 11:55pm on New Year’s Eve and expect that will suffice to allow us to reach our lofty goal. And yet, these poorly conceived plans and goals rarely end in positive outcomes and by mid to late January are all but forgotten.
It would seem that our three most popular goals are 1) getting fit, 2) lose weight and 3) quit smoking/alcohol etc. Yet within a month of setting these goals, we have tossed them by the wayside, some of us with a little twang of guilt.
So, my question to you is….Why not try something different this year?
Why not consider a single word which can represent all your goals and aspirations for 2022. Just consider one big, contextual word for the year. That’s right, no resolutions, no SMART goals, just one word that is meaningful for you and represents all that you want to achieve for the year ahead.
One of my favourite reads is “The Game Changer” by Dr Jason Fox. If you get the chance, it’s a great read and fantastic for change management and motivation. Dr Fox talks about contextual momentum. This is getting the balance right between specific goals and open possibilities while still moving forward and making progress. He recognises that it is great to have small crisp action steps that give you daily and weekly traction. You can also plan for monthly and even quarterly goals, however when you start to plan longer term than that, things are not as easy, and we can’t necessarily see that far out. There are too many factors we can’t yet use our crystal ball for. What we can do is set “one word”. One word against which we can measure all of the plans and goals we set for ourselves for that year.
If we are going to use the 1st January each year as a time for reflection, it certainly is a great time to hit the reset button. What do you want the coming year to represent for you. What “one word” will exemplify your contextual goal for the year? Then every time you set yourself a new goal, or a new project – you can measure it against your one word.
Now don’t go for the obvious here ok!! I know it sounds logical to pick the first word that comes into your head. But don’t do that! This takes time and reflection. Your word will be with you for a whole 12 months. Make it count. Consider: What do you want to achieve this year? Do you have a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)? Or is this year about consolidation and sustaining what you have? Your word has to instantly represent to you what you want and how you will achieve it.
Last year, my word was “Monkey”. On reviewing my Chinese Zodiac, I am born in the year of the Monkey. The Monkey has many great attributes including natural curiosity, cleverness, playfulness, and they are fast learners. They are also very social animals with a high need for stimulation and are inquisitive. They also love a challenge. I measured myself against this word all year, looking to ensure I was pushing myself outside my comfort zone and always learning.
This year, my word is “Gratitude”. I want to really engage in self-compassion, to be positive about what I have and what I can give. I want to have more balance and be mindfully present with who I am and what I am doing rather than rush through my life to get to some imagined finish line. So with everything I do, decision I make, project commence, I will be measuring myself against this word.
This is a great exercise to do with family members and work colleagues, and people you work with can be great to keep you honest. Let’s say that you set your word as “Pirate”, for the purpose of experiencing new adventures and new opportunities as your goal for the year. Colleagues can ask you at critical moments, “Is that what a pirate would do?” Or what about the word “Nike” – everything you are challenged by consider…. “Just do it”. The options are endless. The only rule is you need to measure what you want your next year to represent against your one word. It will be individual for everyone.
So…… Now it’s your turn. What will your “one word” be? What will your one word be that you measure all goals against for 2022? Have a go. Think about it carefully. Once you have it, toss it around in your head for a day or so and make sure it fits you like a good pair of jeans. Then use a whole A4 page and print out your word and put it on the fridge. Now you’re ready. Go for it. Achieve everything your word represents.
Want to go from surviving to thriving and set goals for yourself in 2022? Get in contact with Michelle Bakjac via email at michelle@bakjacconsulting.com to enquire about coaching and training to develop your strategies to enhance your outcome focus.
Michelle Bakjac is an experienced Psychologist, Organisational Consultant, Coach, Speaker and Facilitator. As Director of Bakjac Consulting, she is a credentialed Coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF) and a member of Mental Toughness Partners and an MTQ Plus accredited Mental Toughness practitioner. Michelle assists individuals, teams and organisations to develop and improve performance, leadership, behaviour, resilience and wellbeing. You can find her at www.bakjacconsulting.com
