Step 2: Clarify Your Vision and Setting Realistic Dreams

Welcome to the second step of our journey towards a balanced life. As women with unique and demanding responsibilities, achieving balance requires a personalized vision that resonates with our specific challenges. 

In this step, we will explore the art of setting realistic goals – a transformative process designed to align your aspirations with the realities of your life.

If you haven’t yet downloaded my free 21-page “3-Step Blueprint,” here’s your chance! Just click on the button below.

Unconventional Goal Setting

If you’re like me – someone with a demanding and atypical lifestyle – achieving goals using traditional goal-setting methods is challenging. 

I unsuccessfully attempted to set annual goals for myself for decades, from the realistic and practical to the big and bodacious. Each year, I was left frustrated and took on personal shame for my inability to achieve my goals and dreams effectively. 

Where did I go wrong? I failed to see that the conventional approach of creating vision boards and setting SMART goals doesn’t work for people like us. 

I was trying to raise three neurodiverse children, run a business, and be an excellent wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend … and just about every other role you can imagine. I thought anything and everything was possible because I grew up in an era where women were told they could and should “be all and have it all.”

Reaching out for a little reality check here … am I alone in struggling so many years spinning my wheels trying to do so much and, in the end, achieving so little? (Please share your thoughts in the comments below!)

When I reached my mid-sixties, I decided to try a different approach. As I was mourning the loss of several family members, it occurred to me that if we only knew when our clock would run out, we’d gain clarity pretty quickly.

So here’s your challenge: try this unconventional approach to goal-setting. 

Imagine for today that you’ve just been handed a countdown timer set to run out in exactly three years. What are the most important things you want to achieve within this time?

Worksheet 2a will help you with this challenge. It’s designed to be your guiding companion, providing prompts that encourage the exploration of three essential categories: Achievements, Relationships, and Personal Peace. 

By focusing on these critical areas, you can gain a deeper understanding of what matters most to you and begin to carve out goals that align with your reality. This process enables you to create practical milestones to serve as a roadmap for your journey. 

Whether you’re looking to progress in your career, build stronger relationships, or find inner peace, Worksheet 2a can help you achieve your objectives with greater clarity and confidence.

Balancing Realistic Goals with Dreams

As you work on your personal development and set goals for the year, it’s important to remember your long-term dreams and aspirations. That’s where Worksheet 2b comes in – also known as your Bucket List. While Worksheet 2a helps you identify your primary focus for the year, the Bucket List records the dreams and desires that may not fit into that immediate focus.

Think of your Bucket List as a place to store your long-term goals that might have a vague timeline or deadline. These goals could be anything from traveling to a dream destination, learning a new skill, or pursuing a hobby that brings you joy. The Bucket List is a way to ensure that you keep sight of your broader aspirations, even as you navigate the challenges of daily life.

By creating a Bucket List, you can give yourself permission to dream big and pursue the things that truly matter to you. While it’s essential to prioritize your immediate goals, it’s equally important to make time for the things that bring depth and richness to your life. So take a few moments to reflect on your long-term dreams and write them down on your Bucket List. You might be surprised at how much joy and fulfillment they can bring to your life.

Conclusion

In wrapping up Step 2, we recognize that this is more than just setting goals – it’s about aligning your dreams with the intricacies of your life. Embracing unconventional goal-setting methods and incorporating a Bucket List isn’t just practical; it’s a revolutionary act of self-love. It’s about acknowledging the challenges and the extraordinary possibilities that make your journey uniquely yours. 

What do you think? Does this concept excite you or absolutely terrify you? Share your thoughts in the comments!

As we progress to Step 3, get ready to translate these dreams into actionable steps, ensuring they find a place in your everyday reality. Stay tuned for the next chapter in our balanced life journey.