Wow, can you believe we are approaching our 6th month in 2020, and we have 231 days left in this year?
Yep, we are quickly approaching the half-way mark, and this year has been full of surprises. This year has challenged us more than we desired, and some of our family goals were shifted, uprooted, and put on the back burner.
We have been stretched and pulled in all types of ways emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. The strike of COVID-19 was like a domino effect - swift - knocking down parts of our lives within a few months. The shakedown of our homes, communities, state, nation, and the world was devastating.
Who would have ever thought we would witness a historical pandemic? It sounds crazy, but we are all creating pages of history for our future to reflect on how we handled another difficult spot in time.
Wow, did you feel the pressure of knowing we are creating the pages of history? Take a moment to let that thought marinate. Your children's children will hear stories about how you led your family through a pandemic. They will learn how you made decisions that affected the future of your family. They will learn about your courage and strength. They will learn how you decided not to accept defeat, but clung to the vision you had for your family's future.
Your children's children will learn how adults worked together to save their communities. They will learn how we became our brother's keepers and pulled together to help those in need. Our decisions today can set the stage for their future. Our choices today will affect how our children face their adversities in the future.
The reality - you are approaching the fork in the road, and you need to make the right decisions over the remaining months of this year to maximize the second half of 2020 and change your family's narrative.
So, what's next? What will you do with the remaining 231 days left in this year? What actions will you take to fight for the future of your family and your community?
First, despite how things appear - you have more control than you think, and you have the power to turn things around. All you need is a good solid plan with realistic, obtainable goals. Often parents feel more stressed about family life because they haven’t set goals, and they lack a plan for success. Research shows that one of the best ways to minimize stress is to create a plan to acquire what you desire rather than letting things happen – hoping for a good outcome.
You must plan your family’s success, and you must intentionally create goals and a vision for your family so that you can win over the next six months.
It is no question – goal-setting will improve your role as a parent. When you take time to reflect and visualize how you want your family to grow – you are making a step in the right direction for your family’s success. When your family works together towards a common goal, your entire family is more likely to succeed. Here are three benefits to goal-setting:
FAMILY GOALS PROMPT YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Family life can get a bit chaotic. It's easy to move from day to day without considering what matters to your family – what is truly a priority, especially when chaos is happening all around you. It is vital to determine what behaviors and values you want to demonstrate and emphasize as a parent and as a leader of your family. Take time to think about what goals or accomplishments are of most significant to your family in the upcoming six months.
When you have a better understanding of the ‘why’ behind your goals, you are more inclined to follow through with them. If you want to increase your family’s intrinsic motivation, we encourage you to have a clear concept of your family’s vision and goals.
WORKING TOGETHER STRENGTHEN YOUR FAMILY’S RELATIONSHIPS
When your family works collaboratively to set goals, your efforts offer room for your children to express their thoughts and concerns. When you hear your family's viewpoint, you are more inclined to empathize and understand their ideas. Setting the tone of mutual respect and understanding will build family morale and encourage teamwork.
GOAL SETTING TEACHES YOUR CHILDREN VITAL LIFE SKILLS
When you teach your children the importance of setting deliberate goals and living with intention, they will develop good habits that stay with them throughout their lives. The goal-setting process also teaches your children invaluable communication skills, self-discipline, commitment, and how to perseverance when striving toward a common long-term goal.
Here are the 1st steps to start setting goals to make the last six months of 2020 better than the first half:
TIP ONE: USE THE S.M.A.R.T. FRAMEWORK
You may have heard of the popular SMART framework used in business for breaking down goals. The framework stands for specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and timely. Guess what – you can apply these same guidelines in the SMART framework with your family to help keep your goals realistic and attainable. Also, make sure you differentiate your short-term goals from your long-term goals.
TIP TWO: EVERYONE HELPS
All hands-on deck! Everyone needs to participate – no exceptions. Set time aside for the entire family to sit down and pow-wow your goals. We recommend parents planning ideas and main points before your family meeting time and permit each family member to offer their thoughts and recommendations as well.
TIP THREE: MAKE YOUR GOALS VISIBLE
Have you heard the quote, “Out of sight – Out of mind?” Your family will forget about your goals, and all your hard work will be in vain if your goals are not visible. We recommend writing down goals and keeping them in plain view. If you have younger children, try drawing pictures to assist with their processing of information and to commit the goals to memory.
TIP FOUR: THE PROCESS IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT AS THE OUTCOME
Yes, we believe achieving your goals is a huge accomplishment, but going through the process is where change and growth occur. Your family will see the sum of multiple steps taken to achieve your goals. You can address setbacks and use them as opportunities to encourage each other and adopt a growth mindset.
TIP FIVE: REPETITION IS KEY
The more your family review and reflect on your goals, they are more likely to achieve them. Repetition and consistency are vital, so plan a day to discuss your goals every month to assess what’s working, remove what’s not, and make adjustments if you need to.
Now, you are ready to set goals for your family's success for the second half of the year. Putting a goals in place is not easy, and it requires time as well as effort, but it is worth the investment.
Being intentional about what you would like to accomplish in your life and as a family will create a more meaningful life and provide inspirational roadmaps for your child(ren) and your family’s futures.
Remember, you have the power to alter the story of 2020. So, take the first steps of creating some exciting new chapters and check back with us for tips on how to create a plan to execute your goals.
Comments