“If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.” – Thomas Edison.
When setting personal goals we should first take stock of where we already are. Perhaps you have done quite well financially, but your personal relationships are severely lacking. Maybe your marriage is secure and amicable, but in the area of romance the fire has long dimmed. We need to take an honest assessment of where we have succeeded and where we have failed. Then we can determine how to proceed forward. With this in mind, here are 10 primary goals to accomplish as you plan for life in the next 10 years.
1. Marriage and Family Harmony
Maintaining and expanding as well as restoring and healing in this area should absolutely be a top priority in your personal goals. Pinpoint the relationships in the direst condition. It could be your marriage is in severe trouble. Possibly your relationship with an ex-wife creates great pain in your entire family. Perhaps it’s effective communication issues with your children. Wherever the danger points are, the goal is to determine them and devise a plan for resolving the issues. Be sure to highlight where you have succeeded as well, and how you might grow those seeds elsewhere. The goal is a family living in peace and harmony.
2. Proper Mindset and Balance
Carefully consider the man you want to be, and set your sights on how to achieve it.
What is your attitude like? Are you overly aggressive and abrasive? Timid and self-defeating? Your mindset needs to be in proper balance. Too much or too little of any one particular ingredient can send you in the wrong directions. Personal growth occurs as we begin to learn exactly who we are. Our strengths and our weaknesses. Smart goals are ones we set that grow us in a positive way. Carefully consider the man you want to be, and set your sights on how to achieve it.
3. Commitment to Improved Physical Health
A good place to start when talking about life goals is to make sure you actually have a life 10 years from now. That certainly starts with good physical health. There are no guarantees on living a long life, but it is possible to greatly increase your odds. Listen to your doctor when he tells you to lose those 25 extra pounds. Create an exercise plan that you enjoy and relish. Make sure that 10 years from now you are as vibrant and capable as you are right now.
4. Career Passion and Personal Satisfaction
When people set goals, they almost always look towards their careers first. That is a mistake, but that’s not to say your career isn’t important, because it certainly is. Are you a workaholic? On the flip side, are you lazy and uninspired? Once again, balance is required to fully reach your career potential, no matter what it is you do. Employers respond very positively to employees they can trust. Healthy attitudes, strong aptitude, and good people skills are essential to get ahead. The 10-year goal here should be to passionately enjoy your chosen profession while maintaining excellent balance between home and work.
5. Develop Empathy and Gentleness
As men, we tend to chug along aspiring to be what men should be. Strong, protective, and determined providers. But what about the other side? Compassion, empathy, and gentleness. Tenderness when required. The ability to tell the people that mean the most to us that we love them. 10 years from now strive to become fully complete emotionally.
6. Financial Stability
Getting your “financial house” in order is an essential priority in your 10-year planning. Strive to lower or eliminate your debt. Increase your savings and build your family security. Check out All Pro Dad friend Dave Ramsey for great advice in this area.
7. Service and Social Responsibility
Despite our severe issues, America is still the wealthiest nation on Earth. We have a duty and responsibility to do good works with our blessings. For instance, Coach Tony Dungy places a high priority on mentoring. Research and discover an area of need that ignites your passions. Create a 10-year plan to become permanently active in the needs of your community, and include your entire family.
8. Stress-Busting Leisure Time
We have talked about healing family relationships, moving ahead in your career, straightening out your finances, serving others, but how about a little “you” time? Stress can be a killer. It is important that time is set aside to relax and just enjoy life. However you see fit to do so is up to you. Just make sure that in your 10-year planning, leisure is included.
9. Continuing Education
Every day lived is another piece of your education. What are you doing with the knowledge you have absorbed? 10 years from now you will not be the same man and have the same thoughts. That process needs to be focused and nurtured. Do not fear change, because it’s going to come anyway. Embrace it and shape it instead. Set your goals so that 10 years from now you are wiser, more adaptable and more complete.
10. Expanding and Growing Faith
With all due respect to the readers who consider faith a silly notion, I believe it is the most important item on this list. Without faith, a deep belief in meaning and purpose greater than you, this whole list is pretty much pointless. If there is nothing greater and nothing beyond, then who really cares about any of this? Start and finish your 10 year planning based on growing your faith and becoming the man God created you to be.
Huddle Up Question
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Why?”
