Since beginning this day-before-my birthday tradition in 2011, the years I've most enjoyed have been those when some of you have shared a goal(s) you have for the next year, birthday aside. Doesn't matter if you shared here via a comment or, if you contacted me offline. In my experience, sharing a goal enhances the likelihood that you or I will begin working on it. And if you make the goal specific and measurable, add action steps, ensure it's realistic, and attach a time frame to it, you make it into a SMART one, thereby increasing the chances of attaining it. Why not join me today?
Over my 76th year, I will begin using techniques learned from Kate Murphy's You're Not Listening (2019) to improve my listening skills. Specifically, I will work on maintaining a demeanor that communicates to the speaker that I am not judging what they are saying. I will also remain mindful of closeness communication bias, a trap I've fallen into with many people close to me when I "think" I know what they're going to say before they say it, which affects how carefully I'm listening and whether the speaker feels heard. I will measure my success by assessing how much more I'm learning about the people around me and by asking my wife for feedback about my listening demeanor after she's watched me interact with my siblings.
Wish me luck. Good luck with your goal.
Reflections From The Bell Curve: Rescuing Ourselves
Hey, Pat. Not sure if this qualifies as an actual goal ... wait, as I'm typing this comment I realize it is definitely a goal and one that I've had for a number of years. As I inch ever closer to 68 my goal is to travel. Sadly I haven't done much of that over the past 20+ years despite always loving to travel. There are a few reasons for this but none that I feel should continue to be a reason not to. When I was younger I used to travel all over. If no none wanted to come along I would just go by myself and either see people I know already (probably the reason for the trip) or meet people along the way. Two of these 'new people', West Coasters now, have been friends for more than 40 years. I remain hopeful that 2025 allows me to reach my goals.
ReplyDeleteBe well, and Good Luck with your Goals!!
Bob
Bob; Yeah, I seem to recall you mentioning your travel goal in previous iterations of this yearly blog series. Why not make your goal a little more specific and time framed? Like picking one specific place you'll travel to over the next "X" number of months. Making it specific, realistic, and attached to a time frame will increase the likelihood you'll get to it. Good luck.
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