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 Stasie Tillman is a writer & an investment and personal finance analyst. She oversaw the Analytics department for a prominent Long Island bond brokerage firm for many years. She’s the founder of AStoicLife.com a faith and lifestyle website. Contact her at astoiclife.com/work-with-me-pr-friendly/ |
| The start of the New Year often represents a reset. It gives us permission to start over, and marks the starting point to many long held plans, goals, and aspirations. For some, their new year starts on their birthday and is not based on a calendar year. Whatever denotes your new year, it is a time of reflection and planning. I start my new year by pausing and reviewing the goals I’d set for the previous year. I note what was accomplished and what didn’t work out. Then I think about what I really want and the person I’m seeking to become, and use these to create my goals for the New Year. Notice that I call them goals and not resolutions. Resolutions have a negative connotation to me, because often times when I hear people talk about their resolutions it’s stating how they’ve failed or given up on them. This year, I included my kids in my New Year goal setting process because I want to get them more goal-oriented about their lives. How does someone become a better person? They take steps to change in areas of their personality and behavior that are a poor reflection of who they want to be. If you want to be kinder, it won’t just happen one day without making the conscious effort to be kinder to everyone on a consistent basis. With this in mind, I shared my 2016 goals with my children and noted what I had accomplished by checking it off the list as well as the items that got lost in the sauce over the course of the year. These items were now in the top slot of my 2017 list. I mentioned specific focuses such as tasks like getting my house to remain clean & organized, and donating regularly. As well as self-development focuses such as being present, learning and addressing others by name, and making conversation. I highlighted the self-development focuses mainly to illustrate that no one is perfect, not even mom, and we all need to self-assess and strive to be better humans and society members. We talked more with examples that would be relevant for a kid, such as developing a sports skill by practicing 3 times a week, reading 1 new book per month, or making friends with someone you’ve never spoken to before. I assigned my kids the task of coming up with one activity and one self-development goal each. I can’t wait to see what they come up with! What are some ways you teach your kids to set goals & be mindful? I’d love to get your feedback, reach out to me anytime at stillman@astoiclife.com. Also, visit my webpage astoiclife.com for more encouragement to live a balanced and fulfilling life. |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 