[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]
Time to look forward to the coming year.
Look back first to realise all the big mistakes you made, make a note of all those missed opportunities and unrealised dreams, then forward ho!
What am I expecting this year? What do I hope to achieve? What goals can I set myself? What resolutions shall I make? How can I be a better person/ singer/ choir leader? How can I lose weight and influence people?
But that all seems a little boring and old hat.
How can I have fun in 2014? How can I revitalise my singing world? How can I make a difference? How can I help more people laugh/ sing/ dance? What’s the highest note I can reach without my eyes watering?
For many years I used to make big plans for the new year. Usually I failed miserably to realise my goals. I feel bad about that. I had all good intentions, but somehow real life intervened.
If you don’t want to fail miserably, I reckon you have two choices:
The first option is a bit of a cop out I feel. You’re simply setting the bar deliberately low so you know you’ll reach it. Even though you might realise your goals, it won’t give you much satisfaction or stretch you or help you to grow and develop.
The second option seems a bit harsh. It might mean being hard on yourself and focusing too much on your goals rather than getting on with life. Most people fail to keep up with their New Year resolutions any way so it’s pretty hard to insist that you stick to them when others can’t.
OK, setting goals at this time of year is a bit of a cliché. However, I do believe that it’s good occasionally to take stock of where we’re heading and how we’re going to get there, whether it’s at the turn of the year or otherwise.
So maybe you might want to come back to this post when the time is right for you.
Instead of watering down your aspirations (option 1) or giving yourself a hard time (option 2), there might be an alternative approach.
Dream away. Fantasise about your perfect (singing) life (it is a singing blog after all). Imagine being famous/ successful/ top of your game/ number one/ internationally respected/ whatever.
Picture yourself exactly where you want to be (which may or may not involve pool sides and lithe, scantily clad gorgeous people).
Now set some goals to achieve those dreams. Don’t worry how unrealistic/ crazy/ daft/ pointless/ arrogant/ scary they are.
Your job is then to go into 2014 open-minded and full of optimism with these goals at the back of your mind. They will inform your journey over the next 12 months.
You may not achieve all of them, but they will help you on your way.
Don’t give yourself a hard time if it looks like you’ll fall short; don’t ignore them entirely, but equally don’t focus on them too much or they’ll get in the way.
Goals are there to help you. And if you feel like sharing them with us, we’ll certainly cheer you on and encourage you on your way.
Drop by and leave a comment with your aspirations for 2014 and you’ll hear our approval from way over here where we live.
Good luck!
Chris Rowbury
website: chrisrowbury.com
blog: blog.chrisrowbury.com
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