Beyond Resolutions: Crafting Your Personal Growth Plan for the Year
Crafting YOUR Personal Growth Blueprint
The clock has just struck midnight. Last year is over and LET THE NEW BEGIN!
If you’re like many people you feel drawn to the excitement of a new year.
New opportunities.
A Clean slate.
Fresh dreams.
Infinite growth.
Revitalized energy.
All these wonderful perspectives draw us to an ideal future filled with well-meaning resolutions. The problem is that we’ve all had the best of intentions in making resolutions only to have those resolutions never actually stick.
You’re not alone. Did you know that roughly 40% of Americans attempt a New Year’s resolution, but 88% of resolutions end up unfulfilled?
Resolutions often fail because the plan doesn’t connect with the deepest parts of us.
Not to mention that we’re often stuck between flying by the seat of our pants with a plan or wrestling with convoluted life plans that feel more like algebra than genuine growth.
This year you deserve to go beyond your resolutions. In this blog post, we’re going to help you craft your personal growth plan using the zones of relationships, purpose, and legacy.
Dr. Anita Phillips suggests, “Goals should not be gathered they should be grown.” In her book The Garden Within, she unpacks how the zones of relationships, purpose, and legacy are the domains we must give our attention to grow the kind of life that reaches our fullest potential.
Are you ready to nurture the kind of life you only dreamed of living? Let’s dig into how a plan centered on relationships, purpose, and legacy will help.
Zone 1: RELATIONSHIPS
It is impossible to grow without focusing on your relationships.
Personal growth begins with the gentle acknowledgment of self. In the whirlwind of daily life, self-nurturing often takes a back seat. Yet, to foster a flourishing existence, we must first nurture the core of our being. We'll navigate the art of self-care and delve into the practice of self-love, discovering how these foundational acts set the stage for robust and holistic growth.
The variety of relationships we have in life weaves a beautiful tapestry and vibrant mosaic.
From the warmth of family bonds to the camaraderie of friends, every connection plays a crucial role in shaping our narrative. The way we connect and allow ourselves to be treated in relationships are not just significant but transformative. If we’re going to see growth in life than we need to pay attention to what is going on in our relationships with other people.
Beyond the tangible, there exists a realm of spiritual connections that adds depth to our personal growth journey. These connections are the invisible threads that weave through the fabric of our existence. The way that we choose to have a relationship with our understanding of God can elevate our personal growth to new heights.
In every one of these zones, we’ll provide a list of prompts for your reflection. Use these questions as guides to explore what you desire to form goals around in these areas:
Describe the condition of your relationship with yourself, others, and God.
What is the most life-giving relationship in your life? What is the least life-giving relationship?
What change needs to happen for you to make your relationships more life-giving?
Zone 2: PURPOSE
Few zones of life have more power to create a meaningful life than embracing our purpose.
Every person is akin to a distinct note in the symphony of existence, each carrying a unique melody, a purpose waiting to be discovered and embraced. Unveiling your purpose is like finding the key that unlocks the door to a life of intentionality and impact. In this section, we'll journey into the heart of purpose, exploring how to unearth your unique mission.
The pursuit of purpose is not a mere philosophical endeavor; it's a practical and transformative process. It's about aligning your passions, talents, and experiences with a mission that goes beyond self-fulfillment—a mission that meets a need in the world.
When you spend time reflecting on what you were created to do and articulate your purpose, you provide a solid foundation for your personal growth plan.
As you reflect on the prompts below, consider not only what brings you joy and fulfillment but also how your unique combination of gifts and experiences can serve a larger purpose:
What activities make time feel like it's flying by because you enjoy them so much?
In what areas of your life do you consistently excel?
If you had all the resources you needed, what change would you most want to bring to the world?
How can your unique gifts and experiences contribute to a purpose that extends beyond your individual aspirations?
Zone 3: LEGACY
Legacy can be often overlooked or minimized when it comes to planning yearly goals.
Missing this important zone leaves us to easily drift along without a clear sense of purpose and passion.
Imagine the legacy you leave behind as a garden of trees. Each tree, a metaphor for the seeds you plant today, bearing fruits that others will enjoy long after you're gone. “Legacy work,” as Dr. Anita Phillips beautifully phrases it, “is all about love, pure and unconditional - pouring love into a future that we may not be present to enjoy.”
Trees, with their deep roots and far-reaching branches, embody the essence of legacy. They continue to provide shade and sustenance, offering a poignant reminder that our actions today echo through time. Explore the profound concept of legacy, urging you to engage in the intentional cultivation of a forest that transcends generations.
Legacy work is not confined to monumental acts; it's woven into the fabric of everyday moments. It's the love you pour into your relationships, the values you instill in those around you, and the positive impact you make on the world.
These guided reflections, are designed to help you envision the seeds you want to plant, fostering a legacy that brings forth fruits of love, inspiration, and enduring goodness.
Reflect on these prompts to initiate your legacy work:
What values do you want to instill in future generations?
How can your unique gifts and experiences contribute to a positive legacy?
What small, intentional actions can you take today to sow seeds of love and goodness for the future?
In what ways can your everyday actions become a source of inspiration and positive impact for those who come after you?
Time to Make Your Plan
The next year may be your best year yet!
If that is going to be true, you will need a solid personal growth plan. No journey of personal growth is a linear path; it's a vibrant, evolving canvas awaiting your unique strokes.
Having a plan that embraces your relationships, purpose, and legacy gives you the confidence to face the inevitable challenges that come every year with courage and resilience.
Witness the transformative power of this blueprint—a roadmap designed not just to navigate but to revel in the beauty of self-discovery, purposeful living, and the legacy you're crafting with every heartbeat.
Make it so your plan is not just another guide. See it as an invitation to cultivate a life that resonates with your deepest desires and dreams. It's about going beyond resolutions and adopting a sustainable, heart-connected plan.
Start with these simple steps:
1 - Name ONE simple desire: Use the reflection prompts listed in the sections above. Pick a goal in the zone you are most drawn to. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with trying to all the zones all at once.
2 - Review it weekly & monthly: After you pick what zone and specific area of that zone you want to foster, then set a time to monitor your progress. Stay positive with your evaluation. Focus on how you are starting to make progress and where you hope to make more progress in the weeks and months to come.
3 - Enjoy the growth: Over time you will see growth. Use the momentum you experience from that growth to overflow into how you can enhance the other zones in your life. Make sure you don’t forget to celebrate all your progress along the way!
The satisfaction and fulfillment that accompany intentional personal growth are not distant dreams; they're the fruits of the seeds you sow today.
Embrace this plan as an investment in your most meaningful and powerful life. Let's grow, nurture, and cultivate the garden within.
Your growth is possible this year! What will you do that leads you to experience that the best is yet to be?