This year was the first time I sat down and really thought about what I wanted to get out of the year. Instead of just making goals, I tried to focus on lessons, experiences, fullness.I'll never go back to just setting goals.
Having these things in my mind and written down where I can see them has helped guide my year. It's helped me make decisions, both big and little. It's made me choose things I wouldn't have normally chose and do things with a different attitude.
On January first, I made a list of what I wanted this year. I wanted to be brave and adventurous. I wanted fullness of life and new experiences. I wanted to hustle my backside off and be proud of myself at the end of each day. I wanted to live and breathe all things creative.
I have succeeded and failed in these areas many times already, and it's only July. But there is way more bravery, experience, hard work, and creativity in my life at this moment than there would have been if I would have simply sat down on January first and decided that I wanted to lose five pounds and clean out my closet in 2014.
Goals are fantastic, but they can go beyond a project that you can begin and end. For me, that's scary. I don't like it. I can clearly begin and end a 30-day workout, but at what point does "be brave and take risks" get crossed off the list? Probably never. And that's probably one of the greatest things that's happened to my life.
So if you feel like maybe you're not getting all you wanted to get out of this year, I really think you should try this. Focus on how you want to feel and what you want your life to look like at this time next year. Make some goals that you may never be able to cross off your list. There's no time like January first, and there's no time like July fifteenth.
What are some things you'd like to get out of life this year?
