Tonight we all wrote down goals for the year. I have been writing mine for a week it seems like. It is almost ceremonial for me--something I have to do to get my year off on the right foot.
Some of the kids' cute goals were---
"Read the whole Book of Mormon by myself this year"
"Do 1200 push-ups by the end of the year--100 per month"
"Run a whole mile without stopping"
"Learn how to play basketball"
"Memorize all of the Articles of Faith"
"Read 9 books"
I am going to "Read the whole Old Testament"
and more...................
They were definitely fun to read. We have been writing down goals for about 4 years. Something kicked me up a notch in 2006, maybe it was having 5 kids and my life seeming out of control????? That is the year I started seriously writing my goals and actually looking at them monthly (most of the time). So now I have all of those lists on my computer, and they are so much fun to go back and read!
I have learned a very important lesson. If I WRITE down a goal, I am 1,000,000 times more likely to achieve it, or at least work on it. So we write them down. These are the areas we choose goals in. Some areas end up with several goals in them, and some with one. Some are long-term goals, and some are for working on this month only. Some even pass on to the next year if they aren't done, or drop off the list if they are no more desired.
MARRIAGE/FAMILY
INTERESTS & HOBBIES
FRIENDS/SERVICE
PHYSICAL
SPIRITUAL
EDUCATIONAL
and HOME/YARD PROJECTS
These categories make it easy even for kids to choose some goals. What is a hobby you want to work on this year? What would you like to achieve physically this year? How can we make our family better this year? etc. etc. We have tried wall posters for writing goals, spiral notebooks, 3-ring binders........the options are endless, but the KEY is writing them down and getting started. One method we have really like is when a goal is completed, writing it down on a slip of paper and putting it into a large jar. By the end of the year, we have stuffed the jar (or jars) with accomplished goals. We "give" the jar to the Savior for Christmas, by putting it under our tree---a symbol of what we have done to better ourselves for Him during the year. We are going to try this method again this year as a family. Kids love it, and it is motivating to talk each month and see if any of our goals are completed and able to go in the jar.
And then when the end of the year comes, you can look back and see that YOU DID accomplish something! And it was a great journey!
2 comments:
I, too, am a goal setter, but I don't necessarily go with the first of the year. I also get frustrated with myself and have had to learn that it's okay if I don't complete a goal--I just have to keep trying! One of the big ones for our family this year is to read the Four Gospels by Easter. The "readers" will read the actual scripture and the youngest will read the children's reader. I am excited about this idea of celebrating Easter for four months instead of one candy-crazed morning.
I love the jar for Jesus idea. Can I steal this for Family Night tonight? I'm pretty sure it will be a hit. THANK YOU
Melissa your family is adorable! I don't know how you do it with 6 kids. They are all beautiful. Your sweet little girls are precious!
Post a Comment