Auld Lang Syne: Rosanna’s Goals for 2021

by | Dec 29, 2020

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Hello 2021!

New Year’s (the holiday) can be hard for a lot of people because the calendar dictates it a natural time to reflect on our recent past, and we don’t always want or need reminders of that, especially if it’s been a hard year. New Year’s is a heart-sensitive time, and one not many of us talk about.

So, if 2020 was hard and you didn’t achieve your goals, you don’t feel like you’re thriving, and you are just barely hanging on: It’s OK! Be proud that you made it. Sometimes just surviving is enough. 2020 was laced with having to be reactive to the world around us. But now, knowing that 2021 won’t be what we are quite used to means we can take a proactive approach.

BUT, in an effort to put the past behind us, whether 2020 was one of your best (as for some it may just have been) or your worst (thanks Corona!) there’s really only one way to intentionally move FORWARD. Setting goals means that you are intentionally choosing your direction. Goal setting is a powerful process because it helps you CHOOSE where you want to go. It can help you simplify your life, focus your time, and grow.

In preparing for 2021, I was reminded of our Season 2: Episode 10 podcast interview with Jason Waller regarding resiliency. His insight on

  1. Focusing on what we can control and letting go of what we can’t
  2. Having gratitude for what we do have to ground us and give us perspective
  3. Finding solutions to move forward

 

can help all of us to bend, but not break.

We can’t just flippantly turn the page to a new month or a new year. Shifting from surviving to thriving in 2021 will require – you guessed it – one of our very favorite words here on the Relentless Pursuit Podcast: intentionality.

The life we want won’t just happen.  We need a purpose, a plan, and some accountability if we want to cultivate our days to create the life we say we want.

So, as you prepare for the new year, carve out some time to sit and reflect. Take stock of what worked and what didn’t. Think about where you are and where you want to be. And then make a plan, a challenge, a goal, a resolution to move forward. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. But here are few examples to help you get started.

Check out the Relentless Pursuit’s guide to Season 2, Episode 12 HERE!

 

  1. Think BIG picture. Let these questions guide you. What do you want this year to look like? How do you want your year to feel? Who do you want to be once 2021 is over?
  2. Let a word help define your focus. Discover the “one word” concept that motivational speaker, Jon Gordon made popular. Instead of focusing on multiple things, the idea is to focus your time, energy and headspace on one thing. Before you start your day, a conversation, or even a workout, learn to check-in with my mental attitude. How is it showing up in my words and actions?
  3. Try creating a personal mission statement or family mission to guide your actions, attitudes, and beliefs.
  4. Break your big picture goals or personal/family mission statements in to smaller targets.
  5. Commit to small challenges that allow you to form healthy habits.

 

In an effort to model for you how we do this, here are a few of the ways I am going to intentionally move FORWARD in 2021. Although this isn’t an entire list, and even though I don’t have all the details 100% nailed down yet, you can see where I am headed. I’ll have these goals and resolutions here to look back on and help me accountable all year long.

My favorite part about this list is that most were inspired by our topics and conversations this year during Seasons 1 & 2 of the Relentless Pursuit Podcast. So, maybe that could work for you too! Go back through this year’s 24 episodes and see if any of the topics or challenges are ones that you could let guide you in to the new year.

Here’s a few for you to consider:

 

In 2020, I looked at some big picture goals and values that helped guide who I said I wanted to be. In 2021, I am focusing on smaller goals and targets to allow me to be, say, and do what I said I wanted.

 

Rosanna’s List for 2021

 

Word of the Year: ENGAGED.

I am choosing to be all in. No matter where this year leads me, wherever I am, I need to be all there. No more distractions, no more wishing I was somewhere else. I want to focus my time and my attention on what is in front of me. From people and relationships to my business or my daily chores around the house. I have no idea what 2021 will bring, but no matter what it does, being engaged with what is in front of me will no doubt be important.

 

GOAL 1: LIMITING/ELIMINATING SCREEN TIME/PHONE USE. Here I am publically acknowledging that I am on my phone too much. It’s a problem. An obsession. A mindless one at that. I am constantly on it. It’s in my hand, and I am not engaged with what is in front of me. I want to commit to spending less time scrolling through my phone, wasting time because I realize that it is not making me any better, any stronger, and more wise, resilient, or kind. *

*What is important to note is that sometimes we think all of our goals, resolutions, targets have to be about adding things to our list. But, if we think about growing, often times it has to be about taking away the things that hold us back.

 

GOAL 2:  READ MORE. Since 2015, this year was the year I have read the least amount of books. And while 6 books isn’t a lot, I don’t think that my lack of reading (which I deem as important, relaxing, and necessary) wasn’t because I’m too busy or because of some other excuse. I think it was because it was easier to mindlessly pick up my phone. I have a few mini-target set. 6 books within the first 6 months of the year, and 21 books total for 2021. I’ll be reading Atomic Habits for my first book of the new year!

 

GOAL 3: BRINGING BACK A HOBBY. Super stoked! I am excitedly looking forward to trying a new hobby for 2021. Something fun that will encourage me to learn something new and utilize some of my artistic talent with no monetary gain. I’ve been wanting to learn/try calligraphy for as long as I can remember–always making excuses for why I couldn’t. But I’ve found some virtual classes I can take that will allow me to order a kit and learn from home and I couldn’t be more excited. Wanna join me? Let’s connect!

 

GOAL 4: ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. In our Thanksgiving reflection, the mindset of having an attitude of gratitude all year long really resonated with me. And then we spoke to Jason Waller about resiliency this same idea of gratitude came to light again. I took it as a sign that it was time to develop my gratitude muscle. So, thanks to Amazon, and to a friend who gave me the idea (thanks Jeff!) I purchased a 52 week gratitude journal. It’s broken up in to categories with a focus of each week, and I cannot wait to get started.

 

GOAL 5: GIVING BACK. More and more in this last year, I have really come to admire those that are crazy generous with their time, talents, and finances. Although I would say we are generous, I think I/we have a ways to go. I’d like to move beyond just writing a check or making a yearly donation. My steps in this endeavor are going to require me/us to research some cause(s) we can get behind, support, and invest in and make that a priority in 2021 and beyond. People who have inspired me to pursue this: House of Shan –go check out her mission! Cesco’s Heart, read more about this family, their story, and how they chose to DO SOMETHING.

 

FOR FUN! If we are going to be home more and have time to experiment with life again, then in 2021 I want to engage in some challenges that help form good habits and be competitive with Jordan. We are both competitive by nature so this will definitely spark some fun and some discipline. We are going to make a list of 30 day challenges that we can engage in each month—sometimes together, and sometimes just for ourselves. I am using the list from my Commit 30 Day Planner to help inspire me.

Are there other goals, resolutions and intentions I have for 2021? Yes. There are some habits and values that I am continuing to maintain from 2020. There are other ones I’m ditching too. I have goals related to my kids that I need to re-up on, and goals related to Jordan and our relationship. So maybe you have 1 goal or maybe you have 25, either way, take some time to think through the direction for your next year.

Grab a journal and write, use your voice memo app, talk to a friend over Facetime, or gaze in to your partner’s eyes and challenge one another to do this together. Whatever you method, your means, your motive, I encourage you to take the time to do it!

Wishing you a healthy and happy 2021!

Xo, Rosanna