The year is not yet over

The importance of completion

Now is the time of year that we think about 2019, what we hope is in store for us and what we wish to achieve. 

Often we don't get what we hope for because the way we set goals is flawed. In the past I have set goals in the traditional linear fashion. I believed that if I quantified a goal in a way that could be tracked and measured it was more likely to happen. At times, I reached those goals and achieved my targets, but that was all. Nothing more, nothing less. And sometimes I fell short of meeting a goal. I didn't know any better as I was taught traditional SMART goal setting.

By setting our goals based on this years success, we are limiting the possibilities open to us.

For example, if I set myself a goal of 30% more revenue or a certain number of new clients, that is all I am open to accepting. 

A really interesting paper on the subject is Goals Gone Wild: The Systemic Side Effects of Over-Prescribing Goal Setting. In this paper, Lisa D Ordbez and fellow researchers write about the less optimal side to goal setting. 

Instead of goal setting, I have switched to setting intentions instead, and avoiding the narrow goal setting approach - that at best leads to narrow results. An intention is a broad target and direction that leaves me free to create, improvise and adapt to ensure that intention is realised. 

Another pitfall that I succumbed to in the past was beginning a new year with some of the previous years limiting beliefs and baggage. I learned a great hack from James Wedmore (if you haven't listened to The Mind Your Business podcast I recommend it). 

My version of the exercise goes something like this.

Year End Completion Exercise

1. Take a blank piece of paper and divide into two columns. In the first column freely write all the things this year that went well. What are your wins? What made you feel proud? What did you do in your business that had great results? Then in the second column write the lessons learned. What did you have to do to make it work for you? What did you discover that you can replicate? 

2. The next step is to repeat the exercise above but instead of the things that went well, write about the things that did not go well. What did you lose? What mistakes did you make? Were there poor choices or actions? Again, write the lessons learned from these experiences. You will now have your wins, losses and most importantly your lessons recorded. 

3. Take time to re-read what you have written and focus on the lessons learned. It is in the value of the lessons that you want to bring forward. 

4. It's time to complete and release the year that is at an end, and you can do this with a simple 'ceremony'. I like to tear the paper into tiny pieces and discard them. As you are doing this part of the exercise, you may like to say a few words of 'completion'.

'Thank you for all that I have experienced this year, all the opportunities that have come my way that have allowed me to learn, grow and accept. I am now releasing 2018 as complete, and I am ready to begin 2019 with open arms to whatever life has in store for me, and I am entirely letting go of all that does not serve me'.

4. By completing and releasing 2018, you are now fully able to create the 2019 that you want. You are starting with a blank canvas for your new masterpiece that is the year ahead. Now is the time to set your intentions.

To your abundant success.

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