As 2024 kicks off, Nadia Ahmed discusses why visioning and goal setting is key to staying positive and motivated this year.
As the dust settles after the festive period, the sparkling Christmas lights are no longer around us and the fun festivities come to an end as the new year beckons.
I always find the start of January both exciting and also a little dull. The prospect of new year’s resolutions and setting positive intentions to identify our goals set the tone for a ‘new start.’
However, the January ‘blues’ with the cold, dark evenings can make it a little challenging to find the determination and motivation to think about the year ahead and to reflect on the last one.
So, how can we make the most of setting new intentions and identifying our goals?
What exactly is ‘visioning’?
How can affirmations be used on a daily basis?
Goal setting
Setting goals involves clear objectives and identifying what you want to achieve in 2024.
A useful way to start the process of goal setting for a new year is to journal your reflections on the past year.
What went well? What challenges did you face?And what would you like to make progress with in 2024?
Consider different areas of you life and where you want to see a positive change. Some examples include: health and wellbeing, hobbies, relationships, family, finance and career. It is important when choosing goals to be clear about the reason behind the goal so they are more meaningful.
Consistency is everything! A small daily or weekly step towards your intended goal will continue to keep you on track. It helps to have someone who can hold you accountable and help to remind you to review the progress you are making towards that goal.
Break it down into smaller steps and create a plan so that you can stay motivated. Regular review of your goals will help as adjustments may be needed.
Visioning
A vision board is simply a visualisation tool. There are a number of ways to create one and there is no single ‘right’ way. It is essentially a board comprising of photos and words that represent your dreams and goals.
The images are a vision for your future, so you can be reminded of these every time you see the board. It should represent your goals, dreams and ideal life vision. A more traditional way of creating a vision board is to use magazine or newspaper images that are arranged on a pin-board (my preferred method.)
There are now a number of apps, however, to help create a ‘virtual’ board. Canva is a great platform to use to make a very creative version. I noticed recently many bookshops sell vision board kits focused on specific goals. ie health, abundance.
Once the board is completed, think about the best place to see it daily. It is essential to regularly see the vision and remind yourself of what you want to have in your life this year!
Affirmations
An affirmation is a positive statement that you repeat regularly in order to reinforce a desired belief or mindset. Affirmations are a great tool to really focus on what you want to tell your subconscious mind and embed the beliefs you want to bring into daily life. Choose statements that reflect your goals or positive attributes.
Repeating them regularly out loud is the most effective way to use affirmations as part of a daily routine. As the statements are repeated, you will start to bring these into your life more often. This is especially useful when there are times that may challenging.
Believing in the statements will enable you to promote a positive mindset and encourage motivation on a daily basis.
Five tips to create powerful affirmations:
- Be specific – consider a statement that is related specifically to your goals
- Use the present tense – the statement should be phrased as though you have already achieved your goal
- Repeat – repetition reinforces positive thinking
- Believe – embody genuine belief so they become part of your subconscious mind
- Visualise – create a mental image of the desired outcome.
We often believe our doubts and doubt our beliefs. Make this year count and set your goals with the belief you can make them come true!
Connect with Nadia on Instagram: @Nadia_orthodontist
Catch up with Nadia’s previous column:
- Adapting to the season of change
- Are you living in alignment with your values?
- Alignment: it’s more than straightening teeth.
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