March Goals

I'm a big fan of Lara Casey's Powersheets! I have a set for home (which I'll share here), and I also use the same basic process at work (though simplified a bit). Each month on her blog, Lara does a review of her goals for the previous month and her new goals for the month ahead. As another tool to hold myself accountable for the dreams I hope to make into reality, I'm going to do the same thing and share my monthly goals with you.

In the Powersheets program, a person annually goes through a process to discern her main goals. Then, each month she fills out her blank "tending list" to create daily, weekly, and monthly goals that help her reach her main goals for the year.

All of the goals and lists can be adapted at any time! Nothing is set in stone.

The process also involves setting a theme word for the year. My word for 2018 is: FREE! (my theme Bible verse is John 8:32 - "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.")

My main 2018 goals: 

1. Daily awareness and celebration of my freedom with a foundation of daily morning meditation/reflection/writing time. 
2. Read 52 books. 
3. Cultivate playfulness, affection, thoughtfulness, kindness and spontaneity in our marriage. 
4. Honor my body and mind. 
5. Create with regularity and purpose - especially through writing, blogging, videos, and social media. 
6. Make intentional space for time with family and friends. 
7. Explore entrepreneurship with bold curiosity and confidence. 

When it comes to the big over-arching goals, a person can choose to have anywhere from 1 to 10 of them. They can be added, adapted, changed, or deleted over the course of the year. 

I also color-coded the sheet above so that each of my tending list goals relates directly to one of my main 7 goals for the year. It's a helpful way to connect daily, weekly, and monthly habits/behaviors with the larger hopes and dreams.  

My March tending list: 

Monthly goals: 

• Spiritual Direction: I've always wanted to commit to a regular practice of spiritual direction. I've gone a couple times over the last 10 years but never stuck with it. After interviewing my friend Linda for this column, I decided to Google and find a Spiritual Director! I meet with her in a couple weeks! Looking forward to it. 
• Life Coach: I'll share more about this along the way, but an amazing opportunity has landed in my lap! I am abundantly grateful. I'll be working with a life coach for the next 4-6 months. It's a vocational time of discernment for me, and I'm excited to see how this coaching process may help bring a sense of clarity to what I want for my life after the bishop's election in 2019 (our team is all co-terminus. When the bishop's term ends, our terms end as well). I love my job SO MUCH! But it will be up to the new bishop to discern her/his staff, so I need to be ready to explore whatever new possibilities the Spirit is cooking up. I am so excited for coaching and especially a chance to articulate some of my entrepreneurial goals aloud!
• Med City Beat Article: I love this online publication and am striving to produce a piece this month for Sean. 
• Fun in Iowa with Josh and Sweta: We're heading to Iowa for an overnight this month! So excited for time with brother and sister!
• Lead Boundaries Workshop with gratitude: This is more work-related but it's significant personally, too, because it's not something I've done before. All rostered ministers are required to take something called a boundaries workshop every 3 years. Last fall I went to Chicago to learn how to lead a training. In a couple weeks a colleague and I will get to empower the leaders of our synod to embrace the beauty of boundaries! I never imagined growing to love boundaries and talking about boundaries as much as I do! 
• Walk15 certification: I've wanted to complete my walk instructor training for about 19 months! Time to get 'er done! I may need to take a continuing education day to do it, but I WILL get it done in March or April! 
• Clarified voice & audience: I'm going to take a couple hours this month to implement some of the things I learned from "Louder than Words" by Todd Henry. They involve getting clear on my voice & also my intended audience. This relates primarily to writing/freelance work as well as future writing/speaking opportunities. 
• 1 Emoji adventure: Justin and I loved making these earlier in 2018 and hope to make another this month. 
• Quality time with Mom
• Quality time with Stolls
• Quality time via email/text with Dad

Weekly goals: 

• Date with hubby
• Long walk/dog park with Finn
• Gym (x2)
• Read a book
• Write column with intention
• Identify meditation resources & use them
• At least 1 hour per week for spacious relaxation

Daily goals: 

• Movement
• 60 oz of water & 3 meals
• Kiss hubby
• Read
• Write/reflect

Thanks for the opportunity to share my March goals with you! Looking forward to checking in on this each month to share progress and updates.