I try to keep my goals for the year as simple as possible. Last year I wanted to begin each day with a prayer of gratitude and practice discipline. I did OK but not great on the first goal but not well at all on the second.
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| ah well. |
First the success. My mantra has been "it's ALL good!" Even when I'm crazy I remind myself that the things making me crazy are all GOOD things. I'm very blessed to have a wonderful family, stable finances, and to have art in my life!
I still procrastinate then get completely stressed out over every deadline. I still fritter away my art-making time - usually by getting sidetracked on the computer. I'm doing important things - but not the MOST important things.
When I analyze my shortcoming (notice I didn't say "when I beat myself up about failures") I think the "practice discipline" thing is too big, too nebulous.
This year I'm going to keep the same simple goals but I'm going to rephrase it into something that will help me with the practical application - both of being grateful and of learning to practice discipline.
It boils down to one word.
Wake up each morning and do what is most important FIRST!
For me that means:
- getting the kids off to school.
- spiritual practice (reading, prayer, meditation)
- exercise (gym or running 3 days minimum)
- MAKE ART (1 hour minimum)
Before I answer email. Before I write blog posts or articles. Before I ship stuff out. One hour to make art. If I put the most important things first the rest will certainly take care of itself.
I played around on http://www.wordle.net/ to make a pretty word-cloud of my priorities.
I'm going to print one of these and post it on my bathroom mirror to remind myself. I'll probably need to post other reminders all over the whole house. New habits can be difficult to implement for me so I need all the help I can get.What are your goals?
What is your word?
12 comments:
My word for this year is faith. I would do better in my life if I spent time my spiritual practices before I turned on the computer for the day. Thanks for the inspiration.
I think my word should be "laugh." Laugh at myself for thinking I might do better at motivating myself. Experience would indicate otherwise.
I couldn't come up with just one word. Since I have decided to keep an art calendar journal this year, I am assigning each month a theme. This month's theme is Meaning.
D~~~~
I like your choice, it is so easy to get sidetracked. I want to stay focused so that at the end of the year I am pleased with what I have accomplished. If I don't stay focused on where I want to go I won't get there
This is a great post, Lyric; I love your word cloud!! My word for the year is INSPIRE: I want to inspire others, and I want to continue to be inspired by others. This is the year that I make room for the things that feed my soul...
My word this year is "balance."
I find myself careening between the extremes regularly - between dieting and eating everything that isn't nailed down, between frantically working and being completely uninspired, and between being so wrapped up in my own head that I can't see the world around me. Finding balance is what I'm going to strive for -
I think if I stop, feel, think, then reassess I'll be able to find a better place to be open and accessible to what God has in store for me.
Love your blog, love your art - and I love your willingness to be open to us. Thank you.
Chris - I too, am continually seeking balance. I think if I manage to do "first things first" I'll feel a little better balanced.
I love all of your words!
I like the idea of art first!
My goodness how wonderful it is to know I am not alone Set goals for each day and forget to follow thru, too much time on the computer learning how to make art and not enough time to make art. Frittering away my time procrastinating and then whining . Now , no more goals . My new Mantra is ONE DAY AT A TIME and just doing my best and not beating myself up at my failures just being grateful that at the age of 76 I am still here doing my best and having fun. Love your blog . your spirit and your talent Lyric, thanks for sharing yourself with us.Serafina
Okay, my word for this year is Deb -- yep, that's me and although it probably sounds selfish it is not intended to be that way. Like many of us, I've spent too much time doing things I don't want to do for various reasons as we all have. I want to spend more time with people who are happy, positive and lift me up instead of letting their negativity weigh me down. So this is the Year of the Deb. This means I will spend my limited free time doing what I love -- thanking God for all His gifts, taking better care of my body by feeding it healthier foods and getting more sleep. I will also devote more time to art instead of sitting in front of the tv. I told my husband that this is the Year of the Deb and he and my friends are laughing and encouraging me. I hope each of you can make this year one that focuses on taking care of your spirit, your health and your family and friends.
I think your goals are more narrowed this year so you'll be better able to follow it; although it's quite a timetable.
Your right last years, have more discipline, was too vague.
I'm not so good at resolutions, so i made 3 intentions that I want to do each day for 30 days-- cash only, hugs with my husband, and yoga. Apparently it takes 30 days for something to become a habit. We'll see.
The wordle website is great, I'm going to use it with my middle school students for an upcoming project. Thanks for sharing.
My word this year is confidence. I need to develop confidence in my art, my career, and with personal relationships.
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