For Midlife Women - The Wise Women"s Guide to Goal Setting
When you are a woman in midlife, goal setting isn't always clear cut.
The prevailing wisdom is that goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and should have a time frame for accomplishing them.
That's great if you already know where you are going! Here's a story that will help you identify your starting point for goal setting and begin to give you a sense of direction.
It comes from a collection of what I call my "Morning Time Stories" - stories that are written for midlife women and are meant to wake us up and see the possibilities for our lives.
"Once upon a time in the Land of Setting goals, the "Wise Men" of the Land decreed: When it comes to setting goals...
You have to know where you are going! You have to know what you want! And you have to know how and when you are going to get there! But the "Wise Women" of the Land heard of this and said: When it comes to setting goals, there is something more to consider...
Because of our unique experiences as women, we don't all start from the same place; so having one way of viewing things just won't sufficeLet's use the metaphor of airline travel to illustrate.
Some women are well into their journey.
Some have already arrived...
full of satisfaction and the thrill of accomplishment.
For them, goals are geared towards growth, expansion and planning the next destination.
Some women are on the approach to the runway...
full of expectation, eager and ready to take off to the next part of their lives.
For them, goals are geared towards honing their focus, staying on track and completing what needs to be done to get to where they want to go.
Some women are still in the airport terminal...
they know they want to go somewhere...
but where is not always clear.
For them, goals are geared towards finding how their preferences, strengths, skills and talents can lead them to meaningful work or activities.
Some women are still in the parking lot...
wishing, hoping and praying to find a way to even get to the terminal!! For them, goals are geared towards getting to know and value themselves (maybe for the first time), to finding out their natural strengths and talents and to discovering the possibilities for their lives.
So to all Wise Women in other Lands, we offer this advice: Once you know where you are starting from, the way to get to where you want to go becomes clear.
You are going on a wonderful journey and wherever you are starting from is perfect.
So Sit Back...
Relax...
and Enjoy the Ride.
" The Beginning"
The prevailing wisdom is that goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and should have a time frame for accomplishing them.
That's great if you already know where you are going! Here's a story that will help you identify your starting point for goal setting and begin to give you a sense of direction.
It comes from a collection of what I call my "Morning Time Stories" - stories that are written for midlife women and are meant to wake us up and see the possibilities for our lives.
"Once upon a time in the Land of Setting goals, the "Wise Men" of the Land decreed: When it comes to setting goals...
You have to know where you are going! You have to know what you want! And you have to know how and when you are going to get there! But the "Wise Women" of the Land heard of this and said: When it comes to setting goals, there is something more to consider...
Because of our unique experiences as women, we don't all start from the same place; so having one way of viewing things just won't sufficeLet's use the metaphor of airline travel to illustrate.
Some women are well into their journey.
Some have already arrived...
full of satisfaction and the thrill of accomplishment.
For them, goals are geared towards growth, expansion and planning the next destination.
Some women are on the approach to the runway...
full of expectation, eager and ready to take off to the next part of their lives.
For them, goals are geared towards honing their focus, staying on track and completing what needs to be done to get to where they want to go.
Some women are still in the airport terminal...
they know they want to go somewhere...
but where is not always clear.
For them, goals are geared towards finding how their preferences, strengths, skills and talents can lead them to meaningful work or activities.
Some women are still in the parking lot...
wishing, hoping and praying to find a way to even get to the terminal!! For them, goals are geared towards getting to know and value themselves (maybe for the first time), to finding out their natural strengths and talents and to discovering the possibilities for their lives.
So to all Wise Women in other Lands, we offer this advice: Once you know where you are starting from, the way to get to where you want to go becomes clear.
You are going on a wonderful journey and wherever you are starting from is perfect.
So Sit Back...
Relax...
and Enjoy the Ride.
" The Beginning"
