Take the “ugh” out of Goal Setting this year. Game on.
It’s a new year. People everywhere are making New Year’s resolutions and some of them have already fallen short… ugh, but why? We often make our goals so big that we end up overwhelming ourselves and then they quickly take a back seat to other things that occupy our lives and our goals and dreams slowly fade away. Or, we will set a goal without a plan or the correct support system in place to help us see it through. As cliché as it sounds, make this year different. So game on!
Here is the G.A.M.E.O.N. Challenge to get you to your goals this year:
- G: Set the goal: Don’t be afraid to set the goal, even if it is the same goal you have been setting for the past three years. This year will be different. I will show you how. Setting the goal is actually the easiest part! Dream big if you wish! Get a goal notebook and write down your wish list. If money or time weren’t an issue, what would you want to do! BE specific. For example, instead of saying, “I want to eat healthier”, say “I want to eat 240 apples this year” or “I want to finally write my book this year.”
- A: Assess/Ask/Accountability. How will you get there if you don’t currently know where you are? In your notebook write down your starting place. Example, if you want to eat more apples, your starting point would be to indicate how many apples you currently eat. Find a worthy accountability partner. Someone who will encourage you, or even do it with you along the way! Contrary to popular belief, this is one of the most important aspects of goal setting.
- M: Make A Plan. This is where most goals/visions are lost. Be specific. If you want to eat 240 apples in a year, break it down into how many apples you may eat in a month, or in a week, or even a day. 240 apples a year is actually only one apple a day during each 5 day work week. One apple a day is a lot less daunting than 240 apples a year.
- E: Envision the plan coming to pass. See yourself accomplishing your dream! A fun and tangible way to do this is make a vision board! Put on it pictures of a thinner you, pictures of you in the job that you want, pictures of your kids all actually sleeping at the same time, a picture of a pile of 240 apple cores…well maybe not that, but you get the point.
- O: Overcome challenges and self doubt: You are often your biggest obstacle to obtaining your goal. So let’s own it. In your notebook write down every possible reason you wouldn’t be able to achieve your goal. Money, time, lack of support etc. Write down every single reason why you think you may not be able to reach your goal, and be honest with yourself. Honesty is always the best policy. Then for every reason that you listed, brainstorm a solution to each obstacle.
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Example:
Challenge: Apples are expensive.
Possible Solutions:
Look for farmer’s markets or stores that sell apples in bulk.
Volunteer for an apple orchid and perhaps they will allow you to take some home free.
- N: Never Give Up. Ever. No matter how difficult it becomes, no matter how many times you fail. Pick yourself up, scream “Game On!” at the top of your lungs (or whisper it to yourself through tears, that works too) and start again until you reach your goal. Greater is HE who is in you than he that is in this world. He will never leave you nor forsake you. God has your back and can help you reach your goal if you ask Him. Honestly, the best accountability partner I have ever had is the Holy Spirit. You Can. Do. This.
This is your year, but only if you do something DIFFERENTLY about it. No pity parties, no excuses.
Game. On.
Nicole Smith is a Panamanian-American, single mother, dancer, published author, workforce development manager and motivational speaker. After graduating, she founded her own non-profit dance organization. Her experience in Sports and Entertainment, Radio, TV and the Performing Arts has spanned nearly 20 years. She has danced and cheered for four Professional and Semi-Professional sports teams, and her heart’s desire is to provide others with tools to overcome life’s challenges while pursuing their dreams. She is the founder of Game Day Prep 365 designed to aid people along their journey to seeing their dreams come to fruition. Connect at www.nicoleRsmith.net.
The Life of a Single Mom is a national, faith-based, nonprofit that exists to see that no single mom walks alone. To date, the organization has worked with hundreds of churches to start a single mom’s support group in cities throughout the U.S. and beyond, as well as having served hundreds of thousands of single mothers with a variety of programs. Offering a large array of books, curriculum, training materials, online instructional videos, podcasts, newsletters, life skills education, and more, TLSM is one of the largest single mom organizations in the U.S. The robust selection of single mom programs focus on empowering single moms to grow spiritually, emotionally, financially, and parentally through Single Mom University, Single Moms Across America, the National TLSM Single Moms Conference, boot camps, and a variety of other programs. For more information, visit www.thelifeofasinglemom.com.
