About your goals – September 2023 Check-in

2023 has been very fast, with many events that either went as planned or did not. We are at the end of the third quarter of this year. In a lot of organizations, they have started reflecting on the year and preparing for next year. Now is an excellent time to take stock and celebrate the progress you have made so far. 
 
In this blog post, we will discuss three areas to reflect on as we review our goals. Check out some of my "Her Plan" posts to help you have a great year.  
 
#1: Check in on how your goals have changed or evolved 
2023 has definitely been an interesting year for a lot of us. Many of our lives have changed significantly three years after the global pandemic. At the start of the year, I intended to take the year slowly and pause more. I could not have imagined that on January 20, things would change drastically at work. By the end of the first quarter, I was sure that my goals for the year needed to be adjusted in order for me to make progress. 
 
Questions to reflect on 

• How have your goals changed this year? 
• How did you react or adjust to the changes in your plans? 

 
#2: Check in on your relationships with goals 
When people talk about goals, they either like setting goals or do not. Often, if they do not like setting goals, it is based on a negative experience that they have had, which is entirely understandable. Over the past five years, I have consistently set goals and worked towards them over the year. However, this year feels very different, and I have had to reassess my relationship with my goals. At one point, I felt disappointed when I looked at my goals, especially when things outside my control were happening. I then decided to adjust my plans to match the reality of my life at this time. This helped me feel better about reviewing my goals. 
 
Questions to reflect on 

• How does looking at your goals make you feel?  
• What actions have you taken to have a positive relation with goals? 

 
 #3: Check in on the progress you made this year  
If I asked you what did not go well this year, you would have a long list of things. This time, we will consider the small and big things that worked out this year. Although my year turned out to be very different than I planned, I have had the opportunity to experience some incredible things. I wanted to create more memories with my family, and thankfully, I have been able to do that. My husband, son, and I have been able to spend time traveling and exploring together.  
 
Questions to reflect on 

• What are ten good things that have happened in your life this year? 
• Who are the people that have made your year special?  

 
Final Thoughts 
We set goals as a guide through our year. At the same time, life happens, and our plans change. I hope you are being kind to yourself and acknowledging that you have progressed in different ways.