A new year is right around the corner and resolutions are in the air. But much to the chagrin of many, the same old
goals get recycled year after year, over and over again. That's because knowing and thinking are easier than acting and doing. So while it's one thing to
say we are going to change or improve something about our lives, it's another altogether to turn those words into reality.
One good way to start the process is to identify, define and visualize the desired outcome first, and then work backwards into a plan - kind of like how it's easier to find the path in a maze by starting at the end rather than the beginning. I never could figure that out. But anyway, from there, the broader context in which the plan sits needs to be factored in because it can make or break the difference between success and failure. And lastly, the "how" needs to be as clearly articulated as the "what."
It's both common and easy to put forth quantitative goals such as, "I'm going to lose 20 pounds," or "I will go to the gym three times per week." Harder still, are the more qualitative ambitions like, "I will be a nicer person," or "I won't yell at my kids so much." But either way, without specific answers to 1) how you are going to achieve that and 2) an understanding of the potential obstacles in your way, chances are good that you'll be making the same resolutions next year.
For this, I like to use a gardening analogy. It came to me one day when I was working with my friend on, and in, her garden. It wasn't enough to say, "We are going to grow a garden." We needed to map it out visually so that our plan aligned with our goals, our strategy fit into the broader environment and our actions brought us to the end result we wanted. This meant that a fair amount of time and effort had to be devoted to how we would achieve our goals, immediately after we defined what the goals, and obstacles, were.
1. The first thing we did was decide on what we wanted the garden to look like when fully grown at various points over the course of the season. This included not only its physical attributes, but also how they would fit into the broader environment of the yard and best complement her house. We also plotted out a start-to-finish timeline.
2. We looked at what options we had that would bring us to our desired outcomes in terms of types of plants and their various behaviors. With that, we had to make sure that we understood the needs and conditions under which our choices would not only survive, but thrive.
3. Then we started plotting what needed to be planted where and when, so that the flowers bloomed at the right time in the right place. This also involved having to think through the relationships of the plants and how they not only might interact with one another, but also how, and under what circumstances, they may potentially complement or impede growth of the garden as a whole.
4. At this point, we had our strategy and decided on what tools we would need to execute it. We made a list.
5. Finally, we planted the seeds, watered, fed and nurtured them so that we did our part to ensure the successful implementation of our strategy.
So in life, we have outcomes, like a garden, or things we want, and all we have to do is plant the seeds, ensure we provide the right conditions for growth and attend to their needs on a daily basis. And at last, we can cross that pesky resolution off the list forever.
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