I do love a good goal. That’s one thing that’s great about running: posting my training plan on the fridge and checking off the workouts as race day gets closer. Even better when I meet or exceed my goals!
Yet, I’d rather not have the new year framed only by goal-setting. Resolutions are falling out of favor anyway as people recognize the futility of setting lofty aspirations only to lose steam and then self-confidence when we don’t measure up.
So how about a reframe?
The new year is a few days shy of the Christian celebration of Epiphany, the day we celebrate the Wisemen arriving and recognizing who the Christ child really is. They followed a star that lead them to Bethlehem.
What if instead of resolutions or goals, we follow a guiding star – a word to lead the way for our year, wherever our journey takes us?
At our congregation, we hand out stars each with a unique word. I like the element of chance involved in drawing a word, though I always caution people not to read too much into it if the word doesn’t resonate. This isn’t a horoscope.
Similarly, Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, chooses a one word theme each year. She suggests it works best when the word has multiple meanings to you and has chosen words like: “Upgrade,” “Bigger,” “Lighten Up,” “Control,” “Re-purpose,” “Delegate,” “Growth,” and “Open.”
Or maybe you go through this values exercise to decide on a few guiding values that are meaningful and last beyond just the year.
Whatever guiding word, theme, value, or goal is meaningful for you, I want to pause and take a moment to further debunk our obsession with accomplishment.
Your value is not based on meeting your goals, or making the most of your life. Your value in life is not about your accomplishments or achievements and certainly not your material wealth or success. Capitalism wants us to put success above everything else. No thanks.
What if we decided to spend a year receiving instead of striving? What if we put slowing down above goal attainment, or soaking in joy above hitting the next benchmark? What if our only goal is to bask in God’s goodness and the beauty already around us, freely given?
To paraphrase Mary Oliver, may we soak up this one wild and precious life as the gift it is. And say Thank You.
~What I’m reading~
The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams