Which type of dreamer are you?
Hi Friends,
As the year comes to a close, we are all starting to feel the impending pressure to create the best resolutions for 2020. Last week we talked about ways to reflect on the previous year, in order to set the scene for dreaming and goal-setting.
This week, let’s take a look at different ways to set goals/dreams/resolutions for different types of people.
Neeeeext week, we’ll take a look at how to actually break these dreams into habits you can adopt.
First, Identify which category you fall into (these are totally made up by yours truly, based on years of goal setting and personal development experience, but mostly based on alliteration and giggles). One day I’ll get fancy enough and create one of those quizzes we all loved in 2001 in Cosmo.
*Please note: the job titles portion could be completely wrong AND you may not have a job title and that’s 100% ok, because here’s a little reminder that you’re not defined by your work.
1. Short-term Shirley
You are great at looking forward, but only ~1 year in the future. You may have even already been planning your goals for 2020 or you likely set some annual goals around your birthday. The Short-term Shirley may have a job title that includes, “director”, “manager”, or “VP”. You may have not ever actually set any personal goals for yourself, but you are easily able to look into the immediate future with some foresight.
2. Visionary Vanessa
Could you come back down from the clouds to read this quickly, Vanessa? You are someone who catches yourself dreaming about the presents you’ll buy your grandkids for graduation. You may have been told at times (by people I hope you exiled from your life) that what you’re dreaming of isn’t possible; it’s too far fetched. You’re a CEO in some fashion (at work, in your personal life, or have dreams of becoming one).
3. What’s-a-dream? Wendall
You are an extreme executor and a master of completing tasks. You may also roll your eyes at the idea of a New Year’s resolution or goal. Your friends would describe you as “extremely productive” or a “force of nature”. Mon-Fri (and likely Sat and Sun, too), you’re likely referred to as a lawyer, CPA, consultant, or something which includes “operations”. I may have even lost your attention on this prompt already, because you don’t care about goal-setting.
Ok, do we all know which one we are? Personally, I’m usually a Short-term Shirley with a dash of Visionary Vanessa.
We all reflected on the previous year last week after we read my newsie, right? Perrrrrfect, let’s move onto how to dream into the future.
Group 1: Short-term Shirleys
HAI SHIRLEY! Girl, you’re probably thinking, “I don’t need any of this, I’ve already got my dreams for January set.” That’s cool….AND I am here to offer some other tools you may not have used.
Buy a planner. I recently bought this one and the jury is still out on her (but looking promising).
Host a tea + 2020 planning night with a small group of friends.
Utilize your coach (🙋) to talk through what you want from 2020.
Look at your reflections of 2019. Create your dreams based on what you set out to do and actually did last year.
Light a candle, grab a pen and journal, and think of what your best self will look like in one year. Get specific -- on December 13, 2020 what will the following look like:
Your finances
Your home environment
Your community
Your work
Yourself (how do you want to feel in a year)
Group 2: Visionary Vanessa
Could I borrow some of your dreaming ability? K thanks! Get ready to harness those massive dreams.
(same same as #5 above, but different) Light a candle, grab a pen and journal, and think of what your best self will look like in TEN years. It’s December 2029 and you’re living your best life. What do each of the following look like….
Your finances
Your home environment
Your community
Your work
Yourself (how do you want to feel in a decade)
Build a treasure map. Get some markers and paper. Think of that massive goal you want to achieve and place it at the end of your “treasure map”. Then create the journey from today to that goal, by drawing visual representations along the way.
Plan your 100th birthday (kinda). Close your eyes (errr, well, open them to keep reading first): Imagine you are sitting on the front porch of your house on the morning of your 100th birthday party. Everyone is already inside, mulling about, and you can faintly hear them talking. They are all singing your praises and gushing over you. What are they saying? What are we celebrating?
Group 3: What's-a-dream Wendall
Oh Wendall, I’m so glad you’ve made it this far in my newsie this week. I’m so excited to have you start dreaming!
Imagine your average perfect day. This is your ideal day without any crazy super-hero powers added to it (winning lottery, flying, meeting celebrity crush). What exactly does this day include? Start from the moment you wake up until you go to bed. Where are you? What do you eat? Who is around you? What do you do for work?
Use this v simple goal setting worksheet (literally the name of it).
Ask your closest and trusted friends how they dream of their goals. Cherry pick what works for you.
Catch yourself when you say the phrase, “I wish ____”. Whatever fills in that blank, take note of on your phone or in a notebook.
Hire a coach (🙋, it’s me again!) to help you start dreaming!
Of course, all of these are helpful methods for any of the groups. So, read through them all, take the ideas that resonate with you, and then GO DREAM!
Until next week,
CC
