Self Coaching Tip – Review Your Achievements

This blog post was going to be about setting goals for the new year, but I thought that I ought to review my goals for this year first. I often find that I need to remind myself of what I have already achieved before rushing on to the next thing. I think this is because I am very goal driven (in some circumstances) and this is what pushes me to keep thinking up new adventures! You can read more about motivation (sometimes called a toward or away-from metaprogram in NLP terms) in a previous blog post I wrote called Use the Carrot or the Stick?

Review Regularly

 I sometimes feel as though the whole day has gone by and I haven’t achieved a thing – until I remind myself to sit back and survey what I have actually done. Much of the work I do is not tangible in the way that a product is. I can’t sit back and say, ah yes I have knitted 10 scarves today, or written 10 pages. I am mostly working with ideas in childrens’ heads and shifts in the mind-sets of adults… quite difficult to see! Maybe you recognise this pattern? Or perhaps you think about your achievements in a different way? I’d love to hear your thought on this.

Goal 1: Do more of the work I love, and get paid for it

This year I had many goals which had very tangible results – so it would be easy to know if I had achieved them. An example would be looking for a new home and selling my current abode – tangible. This sounds simple but in actuality it was a massive goal which took many months and had many mini goals within it. The ones I am more concerned with here are the goals which have less tangible results. So being paid for doing work that I love –  I have made steps towards this goal, or have achieved it temporarily, because this goal requires a ifestyle and mind-set change. It is much harder to say ‘Yes! I have achieved that,’ because it is a work in progress. This year I have been so excited to work with lots of lovely new coaching clients (as well as lovely clients I knew from before), have been teaching relaxation to children of all ages and doing more educational consulting. It has been an amazing year work-wise and I am very proud of what I’ve achieved:)

 Goal 2: Spend more time meditating and actively relaxing

Until recently, I thought about meditation as something other people did, and something that I did not really understand. I understood the point of it, and had an idea of the peace and calm it gives to others, but I did not really know how to do it and thought it would be difficult and time consuming.

What I now realise is that by giving myself a short time-out and following a guided meditation, I am actually more focused and productive when I want to be. This goal emerged over the year and meditation has now become something I do regularly. I am still learning every day, so this goal is a work in progress. I am currently using meditation CDs as I like to have a voice and words guiding me, rather than a silent or music-only meditation. In the words ‘Spend more time meditating’ I chose not to pressure myself with time limits or a schedule as I thought it would be counter-productive. You can read more about what I have learnt with regards to meditation and relaxation in my Relaxation Blog posts.

Goal 3: Have more fun

I enjoy most things. Even if they’re not that good. I just try to make the best of them, and although I might grumble and get annoyed at first, once I’m in a situation I do make the best of it. So this goal is more about creating more fun, rather than just finding the fun in everyday things (which is good too!). I have been actively seeking out more of the events, shows, walks, company and trips that I would love to do. All work and no play makes Zeenat a dull girl, so I definitely need to keep this up! Work commitments take up lots of time, but I have tried to make time for the things that I enjoy too, like spending time with loved ones. Again, I have achieved this goal more often, but it is something I will keeping working on. I wrote another blog post about this very idea which you can read, called Create Fun for Yourself.

 Before you start making new goals for 2012, consider: What have I achieved this year? Take time to notice both the tangible and the less tangible.

I would love to hear from you, especially if your goals were to do with changes in your mind-set or your lfestyle. Please leave me a comment here or on Twitter or Facebook. 

Have a happy Christmas all, and see you in the new year. 2012 is going to be even more amazing!!

Zeenat xx