I have a confession to make, I do not like New Year's Resolutions, I do not like making them and I generally have never kept to them. According to some statistics less than 8% actually stick to their New Year's Resolutions.
However, what I do like, is setting a word for the year that is close to my values. I've practiced doing this over the last three years. Consequently, when I reflect back on the last couple of years I have noticed that I've accomplished most of the goals I set myself that were aligned to my values.
For example, last year I set myself the word 'action'. What a year to set myself the word 'action' when we have spent almost a year in lockdown. But I did.
I'd love to share that against the odds, I achieved a lot last year and I'd like to tell you about a couple of those: I completed my Coaching qualification and set up my own business. I am doing something that I love, with the support of my family and friends, without which, I would not have been able to pursue my dream and I am very grateful.
I have met so many different amazing people through courses and networking and there are some exciting projects that will be announced later on in the year. I've been humbled by being able to share coaching tools and techniques, facilitating clients in setting their own goals and achieve them. I love hearing about the impact they have on clients and those around them. I am so grateful for the feedback from my clients that subsequently, have been used to improve the workshops and thereby using the programmes as a platform to facilitate women to become consciously aware of how they are and manage themselves so they continue to flourish and thrive.
In addition, another accomplishment I am also very proud of is that I booked a swimming lesson with the fabulous Heather (who didn't make me feel too old) and learnt how to swim properly in the water. Once this lockdown is over, I hope to continue building my confidence in the water. I started cold / wild water swimming and with learning the correct techniques, I'm hoping to try new lakes and beaches later on in the year. My family will tell you that I quite embarrassingly would be the one in the corner of the pool screaming when someone came near me because I thought I was going to drown!!! They are now looking forward to the challenge on our next holiday!
How do I know what my values are?
I was introduced to this concept by an old friend on New Year's Eve a few years ago and the principle is incorporated in positive and coaching psychology. The more you set goals in line with your values, increases the likelihood you will achieve your goals.
There are lots of ways of identifying them but the one I would love to share with you is by Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology. By completing a free five - ten minute survey, you will identify your 24 strengths. The rationale is that you incorporate your top four strengths by becoming consciously aware of them and do at least one thing in line with your strengths, at a minimum, once a week. The more you practice, watch your the amount of your accomplishments increase. This matters because by becoming consciously aware, this will help to give you a sense of achievement and improve your wellbeing, performance and work / life balance.
On the other hand, to challenge yourself, your first step could be picking one of your lowest four strengths and work on that during the year. Bravery was one of my lowest four, so I have chosen that word for this year. I'll let you know next year how I got on!
I would love to invite you to complete the survey (link below) for yourself and I would love to hear how you get on.
Take care, Paula