Step Two – Setting Goals
After you’ve made your “favorites” list, it can be helpful to set some goals.
Before delving into this, I want to preface — it’s important to take everything one day at a time. ODAAT is an acronym commonly used to refer to this. And, there are many spiritual references reminding us of the importance of living in the moment, including Matthew 6:34, which is loosely translated as “Do not worry
about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have its own worries. The troubles we have in a day are enough for one day.” Worrying too much about what the future has in store disables us from appreciating the beauty in the present. It’s important to soak in each moment as it comes, and cherish each day spent away from abuse.
However, it’s human nature to be future oriented, especially once you’ve regained your strength and independence. You’ll feel as if you want to conquer the world! Just remember to take baby steps along the way. Identify general timeframes in which you’d like to achieve certain goals, then place relevant aspirations within these periods. Practice developing “stretch” goals — those that are achievable, yet will
take some work. This will keep you motivated to progress once you’ve achieved certain milestones.
For instance, you could use the following frames as a guide:
1 month
3-6 months
12 months
3 years
5 years
I wouldn’t recommend extending past five years, at least initially. Give yourself some time to start achieving, and this will motivate you to continue. Plus, life is unpredictable, right? Look back at the last five years of your life. How much change did you witness? I’m willing to bet, an awful lot. And, the next five years will likely bring about just as much, if not more now that you’re working to transform your life.
Short-term goals may be more specific than the long-term ones. As you move into the one- to five-year range, you may want to establish more generalized goals with the understanding that these are likely to change. The key is to remain adaptable and open to the unexpected. Writing down your personal and professional objectives will revitalize your appreciation for forward thinking and give you a jump-start to
living out the years ahead peacefully and productively!
Once you’ve taken some time to figure out where life is taking you next, you’ll be ready for Step Three – Taking Action!