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Right about now you are probably busy with Holiday preparations. You might be thinking about your New Year goals or they may be taking a backseat to the more pressing matters of the holiday season. Take a moment today or tomorrow, soon, to think about and write down your goals for the New Year. As a belly dance teacher, you are in a unique position to help others with their New Year goals while you plan your own.
I know it can sometimes be a daunting task. It is also
exciting! For me, goal-setting is a process. It starts with a big idea and ends
with a list of measurable tasks. It begins with a lofty idea, a dream, if you
will. Starting with the end in mind and working backwards really helps to clarify
desires and strategize planning. Then I begin to define my desires and this
step begins to look more like a goal.
Then I set measurable factors to it. This usually involves setting a
time frame for each goal or part of the goal. Being able to measure your progress
is paramount to staying motivated.
About this time every year, I start to put my goals into
more concrete terms, reflecting on the challenges of the past year. I usually
have three sets of goals: dance goals, professional goals, and personal goals. Dance
goals are things that I want to achieve as a dancer and artist. Professional
goals are things that I want to achieve in my business or as a teacher.
Personal goals are things that have nothing to do with my dance or business.
They are for me and my family. Sometimes the goals intersect; sometimes they
don’t. It’s great when they do!
In past years, I have had to narrow down my focus. I tend to dream big. I have a lot of fun
fantasizing about things I’d like to do. I’m always coming up with new and
exciting projects. Some of my big dreams have included:
Open a dance studio: In
2009 I started my current business, Mosaique, and in 2012 I acquired a dedicated studio
space.
Publish a book: Oriental Dance Curriculum was released June 2015.
Teach at a major belly dance festival: I was selected to teach at the 2015 Las Vegas Belly DanceIntensive.
My "Dream Big" process helps me get to the heart of my life’s purpose. Too
many interests and an over-active imagination are not bad things, but it makes
it really difficult to focus and take action. This is my strength and it is
also my weakness. I have learned that in goal-setting for any purpose, focus is
the key. Narrow down your goals to a few key measurable tasks, and you could
be on your way to achieving your dreams.
First, you will need to define what it is you want to
accomplish in different areas of your life: dance/art, professional and personal. I feel when all of these things align (or at least do not conflict), you are most likely to achieve success in all areas. Feel free to modify your definition of these categories.
Once you have figured
out what you want to do, write it down. Say it aloud to yourself and to others.
Defining it and talking it out accomplishes two very important things. First,
it helps you articulate your goal so that it is measurable and achievable.
Second, it sends a message to your brain and to the universe that this is not
just an idea in your head. It is a real achievable thing. Even if you’re
dreaming bigger than what you end up actually doing, you are reaching for your
highest potential. Isn’t this ultimately what we want to accomplish?
As I write this for you, I am thinking about my own goals
for 2016. This year, I am motived in different ways than I was a year ago. My 2016 goals are centered around things I
struggled with this past year. I have realized that as I get older, my body
and my mind don't function the way they used to. I feel like I was hit
really hard with symptoms of aging. This has manifested in ways I have never
experienced before.
I would like to share my 2016 goals with you. This is my
way of putting it in writing and sending out to the Universe.
I try to organize my goals in a way that I can measure, and with a high
level of control. This way I am accountable. I am responsible, not any other individual
or outside factors. After I have defined my goals in the three areas of my
life, I will go back and set additional measures and very specific actionable
items that I will do for each goal. In essence, for each big goal, I will list several
mini-goals that will lead to the big one. Notice in my “Dance Goal” I am keeping
my expectation small. This small increase in my dance activity just for myself,
is in addition to the hours I usually spend creating lessons, drills and choreography
for my students. By making this tiny change, I am less likely to become overwhelmed
or feel like I failed. This way, it’s not so daunting.
If you haven’t started defining and clarifying your 2016
goals, now is the perfect time to jot down some ideas. In the next few weeks you
can start to narrow down your focus. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1.
Reflect on what you struggled with in the past
year and what you would like to improve.
2.
Start with the end in mind.
3.
Think Big. Act small.
4.
Break down your big goals into several small
tasks.
5.
Create measures and set time frames.
Remember to focus. If you’re like me (and most dancers I
know), you’re always working on yourself. You have a lot of different
interests. Try to choose a few things to work on for now. Next year, you’ll do
it all over again, but with new wisdom, experience and perspective.
I wish you much success and happiness in your dance and
teaching endeavors. Here’s to a fantastic 2016! Cheers!