From Pins to Projects to Goal-Planning

Written by Leah Stirewalt

As an avid Pinterest user, I find myself in the ever-popular group of pinners who collect lots of project ideas but never set aside time to make any of them become reality. I vowed this year was going to be different. However, in an effort to not set myself up for disappointment, I chose one area to focus in, and only focus in that area…Christmas crafts!

I love Christmas, and I love crafting! However, whenever we’re in the season of Christmas, I tend to never have time to do any crafting. How’s a girl supposed to ever get around to making some of those amazing Pinterest-inspired Christmas crafts?

And then it hit me! Like with most goals that never get accomplished or most dreams that never get realized, there are a few common denominators:

• The goal or dream is unrealistic or too lofty. Maybe your dream is to learn how to sew by next summer. How much time do you have to devote to it? Do you still have small children at home? Do you work outside the home? How badly do you want to achieve this goal?

• The goal is not measurable. Is your goal too vague? Is there any way of taking small steps along the path of reaching the goal? How can you keep yourself accountable in working towards achieving this goal?

• The goal is not really something you want to achieve that badly.

Did you simply get caught up in the “hype” of the latest trend or fad? Maybe you really don’t want to do something as badly as you may have originally thought? Maybe this is something you found to be a good idea, but is it a good idea for you?

There are many more reasons for “goal failure”, but the three named above seem to be among the most common reasons for why I never reach my own personal goals. And so…I vowed that 2015 would be different for me in this area.

I decided to hone in on those things in life that really “crank my tractor”, as a friend commonly says. I wanted to choose between one to three priorities in each of these areas: spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and financial? What would allow me to be stronger in each of those areas? What have I really been wanting to do?

Looking back at the short list for why many goals don’t get met, I applied a series of questions to each goal I came up with for myself:

• Is it realistic?
• It is measurable?
• How badly do I want to achieve this goal/dream?

Using the example of the Christmas crafting idea, it went something like this:

• Is it realistic to spend time creating crafts for Christmas decorating or to give as Christmas gifts this year?
• Is there a way to track my progress in an effort to stay accountable?
• How badly do I want to make Christmas crafts?

My response…

• While I might not be able to make every Christmas-related craft I find on Pinterest, I am able to make some.
• I decided I would make one craft/month in 2015 in an effort to make the Christmas holiday season more delightful and/or never get around to it with all of the other holiday festivities that take precedence.
• Very badly, as it will fuel me emotionally!

Following the pattern I identified above, I continued doing that for each goal I came up with. The end result of the goals I selected is to simply fuel myself spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially, and mentally. Making crafts is something I adore, so it definitely fuels me in the emotional category!

Have you thought about your goals this year? What are you doing to make sure you achieve your goals?