Each New Year provides the chance for a clean slate. With the simple turning of a calendar page comes a fresh opportunity to break bad habits and make improvements in all areas of life. While the making of New Year’s resolutions is an annual tradition, the breaking of New Year’s resolutions is almost as common. Avoid this recipe for failure and create a personal mission statement instead.
A personal mission statement, also known as a vision statement, provides clarity and direction. This allows energy and resources to be focused most effectively. Rather than supplying a list of things to avoid, the personal mission statement presents an overall vision of the life desired. Once the mission statement is written, a detailed plan to achieve the desired life can be developed.
Achieving Life Goals by Letting Go of the Past
Guilt over broken resolutions often surfaces each year. Before proceeding with the development of a personal mission statement, let go of all guilt for past failures. It is all too easy to let broken resolutions from years gone by create an atmosphere of defeat that merely sets the stage for more failure. The past is the past. Let go of guilt and start fresh.
Relinquishing guilt may be easier said than done. Rather than focusing on failed resolutions, consider past achievements. Think about previous goals that have been accomplished and areas of life where improvements have been made. Forgive past habits, behaviors and shortcomings but learn from past mistakes. Use knowledge gleaned from the experience of failed resolutions to help create a plan for success. Start the New Year with a truly clean slate.
Getting Realistic to Attain Goals
In addition to relinquishing guilt, let go of unrealistic expectations or ideals. While a mission statement is designed to concisely state the optimum desired outcome, the steps toward achieving this vision must be detailed and doable. Determine what is reasonable and build sensible goals with feasible action steps.
For instance, rather than focusing on a number on the scale and resolving to lose 20 pounds by Valentine's Day, choose to focus on health instead. Craft the vision statement around health and vitality without regard for weight or clothing size. Once the statement is written, develop healthy diet and fitness goals with specific and appropriate action steps.
Fine-Tuning a Personal Mission Statement
Rather than rushing to have a personal mission statement, along with measurable goals and a plan for implementation finished by New Year’s Day, take the entire month of January to fine-tune the statement and develop the plan. Start by clarifying the vision. Once the vision is clear, spend the time necessary to develop goals and action steps for accomplishing them.
To guard against procrastination, have a set timeline for vision statement, goal and plan development. Allow the first week for crafting the statement and then dedicate the rest of the month to completing the plan. Try to work on it a little each day, even if just for a few minutes.
Revise Life Goals in the Personal Mission Statement
Review the mission statement, each goal and all action steps on a regular basis. While each New Year is the perfect time to make revisions, mid-year or quarterly reviews are recommended. During the review, update the mission statement, if desired. Evaluate whether the various action steps are leading to goal achievement and modify, as appropriate. Thoroughly review the progress that has been made and determine where improvement may be needed.
Although entered into with enthusiasm and the best of intentions, New Year’s resolutions are frequently abandoned well before the end of January. This year, resolve to make positive changes that will last by creating a personal mission statement instead.
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Crystal Marie - Crystal Marie is a wilderness-dwelling granny, quilter and freelance writer. In addition to enjoying the grandkids, she creates custom ...
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