Goal Setting Phase 1: Who do I want to become?

 

        

    The corona virus pandemic waltzed in, assumed center stage and an unexpected pandemic completely stole the spotlight in 2020. It came with so many negatives like the  alarming death toll and let’s not talk about how it robbed us off the little pleasures’ life offers us like hugs (and the Olympics, I was so looking forward to the opening ceremony). To put it in context, it humbled me as I saw people who could not afford decent medical care as well as those who could afford the best healthcare money could buy, all fall in the wake of the virus.

            But I am not writing today about the negative things the virus came with (we are all too aware of them and I am guessing we have all had enough of the negatives). I want to accentuate the positives and focus on the bright side of the virus. I realized that thanks to the virus we all got to pause for a bit. The world had been in fast forward for far too long. I got the opportunity to breathe, take stock of my life, evaluate my progress, and ask myself a few hard questions: What now? Who do I want to become next (evolution is so important in life and if you do not believe me, ask a dinosaur)? Is this it or is there more that I can become (I certainly hope it is not because I find transformation exciting)?

            I was already used to having a full day, dashing from school to work to one activity or the other that it was so easy not to think of the future. I was perfectly fine on the roller coaster I had going till the virus hit the off switch – it was self audit time. So, I took a long hard look at me now because to aspire for more I needed to be certain of where I was.

            I realized that I had achieved most of my previously set goals (yaaay me!!! Congratulating yourself is super important) and it was time to set new goals to prevent complacency from kicking in. So, I challenged myself and set some new life goals. My goals ranged from developing myself as an individual (character wise), health goals (I am rolling my eyes as these are always the hardest for me), acquiring new skills (definitely not baking though, I am passionate about the eating but not the making), financial/savings goals and more. I set goals for several different aspects of my life, but I allowed myself sufficient time to meet them so as not to put myself under undue pressure (my life is a marathon not a sprint).

            Have I inspired you to whip out your journal and set some goals too? I certainly hope so. If I did, please share your comments, and join me on the journey into phase two: What do I need to succeed at my goals? My phase one is complete and now I have a direction because a popular saying from an unknown author goes direction is so much more important than speed; many are going nowhere fast.