Make a goal-setting ritual

Spring is here! I can tell because in the Pacific North Wet we’ve been getting our last burst of winter weather—at least twice in the last few weeks we’ve had snow flurries, a deluge of rain, and sunny blue skies—all in the same day.

March is a liminal time of year and one of my favorite months. To me, it represents the threshold of change. Out with the old. In with the new. I look forward to spring cleaning—not just the house but all areas of my life.

I like having touchstones—the new year, the first day of spring, the summer solstice. They remind me to stop and examine where I am and where I want to go. If we don’t set our own goals and dream our own visions, then we end up fulfilling somebody else’s: our boss, parents, spouse, teacher, and others.

Make a ritual of goal-setting. Write them down. Create a vision board. Look at them each day. Change is good. Change forces us to grow.

Write down five things you want to accomplish this season. Here are my five:

1. Complete a juice fast and become 80% raw vegetarian.
2. De-clutter house, re-organize spare room so it’s most efficient for business storage.
3. Brainstorm and outline my next book by April 20^th. Write first draft by August 1.
4. Submit shorter works to contests and publications (3 to 7 each month).
5. Plan a vacation. Take time off each week. Do what I love. Practice kindness.

I find if I can keep my list short, I can focus on my five a little each day. Once I have my list, I break down each item into daily and weekly smaller steps. At the end of each week, I look at my day timer or calendar to make sure I’m on track. Make your ritual fun! Light candles. Sip a glass of your favorite wine or juice. Make colorful charts or spreadsheets. Each time I enter a contest or send work out, I add a colored star to my big wall calendar. It’s amazing how good that makes me feel. Be creative!

I’d love to hear about your goals or goal-setting rituals in the comments below.