Co-Creation of our Goals
Goals help us navigate life in that ideal space between boredom and burnout. This can be difficult for neurodivergent humans, as narrowing down on something can give us a degree of FOMO (fear of missing out) on all the other amazing things we could be doing.
But how do you define your goal?
A goal is the "WHAT" you are reaching for or working on. It can start as something very broad and filter down into something more specific. Remember the relationship we defined in the previous post? Keep that in mind as you choose a goal.
Here's a good example:
Perhaps you'd like to start a blog. For many people, this may seem like a simple enough goal, but it includes LOTS more than just signing up on WordPress and writing. For the initial goal setting, I'd like you to think BROAD. To understand WHAT you're working on, you need to understand the WHY behind it.
Why do you want to start a blog? Are you looking to fulfill any areas of wellness? What about pursuing an alternative income stream? Is this blog meant to help you in your career or be something fun to escape from the daily grind?
The Eight Pillars of Wellness can help you determine your WHY: (adapted from self-love coach Dani DeBoulay's Authentic Alignment workshop)
Spiritual - defining your purpose, living your truth, honoring your authenticity.
Emotional - freely expressing yourself, understanding and processing emotions.
Social - surrounding yourself with people who love and support you, enforcing boundaries.
Career - current career reflection, are you achieving personal career goals?
Physical - paying attention to health and your body, spending time in nature, nutrition, and sleep.
Intellectual - learning new skills and perspectives, engaging in thoughtful discourse.
Financial - developing a budget, maintaining good spending and saving habits, and working on personal financial goals.
Environmental - taking care of your community, the Earth, and your surroundings, limiting power usage, disconnecting.
Ask yourself, "Why?" three different times.
Why do you want to start a blog?
So I can escape from the corporate rat race and be my own boss.
Why do you want to work for yourself?
So I can have the flexibility to take care of myself.
Why do you feel this particular way?
I've neglected my physical and emotional well-being and miss my friends and family.
Let's say you're starting a blog to shift your corporate copywriting job into an entrepreneurial venture (career and financial wellness). You've decided to prioritize your emotional and social well-being to allow yourself to recharge in the comfort of your own home (emotional wellness) and cultivate friendships with others who have seen very little of you these past few years (social wellness). These are response examples to your three Whys.
You've defined your WHAT and can now understand the WHY behind it.
Take a few minutes to journal about and try this exercise yourself. Let me know how it goes in the comment section below.
