The New Way to Set Goals Part 1

Following Gretchen Rubin's system of setting goals from The Happiness Project, I've been tackling a handful of goals each month and each evening I either give myself a check mark (I did it!) or a dash (I didn't do it).   This system, drawn from the journals of Benjamin Franklin, has been astonishingly effective.  (You can find all sorts of downloads from Gretchen here.  But it's this one that has been my favorite.  I simply scroll to the bottom and print the final blank one.)

The next step in goal setting has been to not beat myself up about goals that aren't working.  I've given myself the opportunity to reevaluate each goal and make changes as necessary, always using the framework of following my personal commandments.

With, "The Savior is the center," as my number one personal commandment, I knew the big change that I needed for January was to kneel to pray.

A couple of years ago, Wendell and I went on a trip to Las Vegas for a car dealer conference.  There, I slipped and fell creating, what I learned later, was a hairline fracture in my knee cap.  There's not much to be done with such an injury, so the best thing I could do, was stay off of it.  Including for prayers.  It wasn't fun, but as time passed, my knee has mostly healed.  I'll admit that I still can't kneel on a hard surface.  But this not kneeling had become a habit that I needed to shake.  At the bare minimum, I could kneel for couple and personal prayers in my bedroom (on carpet) using a pillow for added cushioning.

In the Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis reminds us, "Whatever their bodies do affects their souls." Therefore, if I kneel before my Maker, my spirit is so much more likely to be in tune with His Spirit and my will is more easily conformed to His.  This allows me, to keep the Savior at the center of my life.

This was an easy goal, in a sense.  It was one I was able to accomplish perfectly instantly.  Few goals are like that.  But at the end of January, I removed this goal from my tracking sheet and am still keeping it perfectly.  This is what happens when a goal becomes a habit.

Personal Commandments (And Secrets of Adulthood)

A few years ago, I read the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  At the time, I was depressed and struggling. Reading it was more than I could handle.  But I remembered that it was filled with good ideas.  So, I mentally filled it away until I've had time to really spend on it. I guess I've arrived.

One of my favorite things that Gretchen does, is list commandments that guide her life.  As I've looked at the goals I'm setting for 2015, I've decided that they need to be measured by my personal commandments.

1. The Savior is the center
2. Be Jenna
3. I choose me
4. Let go
5. In all things, give thanks


Gretchen also lists little tips and tricks that seem to hold true in her "Secrets of Adulthood." Some of her secrets make me laugh.  But here are a few of mine (and some of Gretchen's) that I've found are true.

To get a lot done, get up early.
Early to bed, early to rise.
The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow.
To find something, clean up.
People don't pay as much attention to your mistakes as you think.
Everything counts.

Summing Up 2014

Despite this post, I've actually, I've done pretty well in 2014!

I remodeled the kitchen--something I've wanted to do for at least the last 7 years.

I'm working on my relationship with food.  It's not been an easy project, but I'm moving in the right direction.

I've gotten more emotionally healthy.  I've been seeing a therapist and working on my stuff.  It's been really hard at times.  (Sometimes I get so tired of crying!)  But each session, with each assignment is another step toward great emotional health.  It's been totally worth it.

I've remodeled the main bathroom.  We've needed to do that for 12 years!

I'm PTSA Pres at Lakeridge Jr High.  I love schools!  I love education!  This realization is helping me formulate my future educational and work goals.  This also fulfills part of a goal I set at 30 that in the next 10 years, I'd be PTA Pres at every school my kids are in.  That's not going to happen, nor, probably should it.  But I'm very happy with being President at 2 of my kids' schools.

I solved the mystery of the hip last year.  After suffering with intense pain for more than I year, I got this one solved.  Seeing a physical therapist was so helpful!  Bit by bit I'm doing better with my exercise and pacing what my hip can do. I have strategies, stretches and I'm learning to listen to my body.

I attended my high school 20 year reunion.  I reconnected with old friends and made plans for staying in touch better in the future.

Bringing on 2015!!