Goals vs. Resolutions

I don't know about you, but I swore off making new years "resolutions".  This is really because I so seldom ever "kept" a resolution.  It seems like an all or nothing proposition to me, and that just doesn't lend itself to lasting change.  But, that does leave the door wide open for setting GOALS.

2009 Calendar by Vertex42.com

I've got general ideas of the categories and the types of things I want my goal statements to include, but my time in non-profit grant/project management makes me want to state them in SMART terms: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time based.  I enjoyed this post from the Wisdom Journal about not setting resolutions, and two more from Simple Mom about first reflecting on the past and dialing in on your vision for the future before articulating specific goals.  Are there other posts that you have found inspiring about this topic?

My goal for January is this:  complete the questions lists from Simple Mom (free pdf downloads if you want to join me...see the above links!) and share the responses with you all.  One of the things I have found extremely helpful as a blogger is both the sense of community/camaraderie from friends near and far; as well as the sense of responsibility for my actions when I commit it in writing for the world to see.  It's like you are all my accountability partners!

As I complete the questionnaires, I'll post some updates and within the next few weeks you'll see my complete list for the year (or at least the quarter, if I decide to break it up into those types of chunks).

I'd love to know if you have set goals or resolutions for yourself, feel free to leave a comment with a link to a post on your blog or a public forum/message board that you'd like to share. Let's support each other to make 2009 fine!

Edited to add links of other useful articles:

• Another Alternative to Resolutions: A Theme -- from Jeri's Organizing & Decluttering News
• Goals for 2009 -- from The Happy Housewife (includes a Mr. Linky so you can share your goal list link)
• My Single 2009 Resolution: to feel damn lucky and often -- from Nataly at the Work It, Mom! blog (and be sure to click thru to read Kristin's eloquent post about mommy guilt)
  
• 7 Common Reasons People Fail To Achieve New Year Resolutions -- from Dumb Little Man Tips for Life
• Link up in our New Years Resolution Carnival -- at 5 Minutes for Mom (another Mr. Linky to add your link to!)
• Instead of New Years Resolutions, set more manageable goals -- from Parents Hacks (think about using twitter to share and report out on your goals for support)