Setting & Sharing Similar Goals!

Setting and sharing similar goals together has many benefits beyond the achievement of the specific goal. As newlyweds, most of us plan and dream with our partners, creating a wonderful future in our minds that sooths our soul. Often in marriage, the trials and tribulations of daily life tend to take our focus off those plans and dreams and our responsibilities of the day can cast a shadow over those goals.

It is essential for couple's to pause for a moment from time to time to reevaluate their life together. By reflecting back and looking ahead, you and your partner can set new goals together for everything from money, kids, vacations, adventures and Bunny Up Moments! Some of the benefits of setting goals together are as follows:

*Setting goals together helps you and your partner to work together as a team.

*It will help improve your communication together by giving you and your partner an opportunity to discuss your personal hopes, dreams and desires.

*It helps you and your partner to validate each other's desires thereby providing encouragement and emotional support.

*Provides an opportunity for you and your partner to celebrate as you achieve your goals together.

*Provides positive reinforcement for your commitment to each other during challenging tasks.

Most of us understand the concept of setting goals, but many do not understand the "process" of setting and achieving goals. If you seriously want to set and achieve your goals, then you should take an organized approach. FYI - This can be applied to all aspects of your life, not just relationship issues.

Identify Your Goals

Identify the goals you and your partner would like to achieve. These goals can be mutual goals you both have a desire to achieve or individual goals you both may work on together. For example - A home remodeling project can be a mutual goal for both of you to work one while helping your partner study for an important exam can be an individual goal you can help them achieve.

When identifying the goals you and your partner whish to achieve, but sure to carefully analyze what is truly important to both of you, including individual goals, goals as a couple and family goals as well. A healthy mixture of all three categories will keep your relationship well balanced and working on the various types of goals together will level the playing field on importance of each category. Always focusing on the individual goals of one person may lead to discontent on the part of the other partner or additional family members. In addition to having goals from each category, it's wise to have goals with various degrees of difficulty as well. Easier and more practical goals will help you achieve success early on, giving you and your partner a reason to celebrate and feelings of success. On the other hand, lofty goals which may take significant time and effort to achieve will give you something to consistently work towards. When you finally achieve those lofty goals, the wonderful feelings can be better than you ever imagined!

Prioritize Your Goals

Combine the list of goals you and your partner created and categorize them into individual, joint and family goals. Prioritize each goal and be sure to have a balance between all three categories.

Provide Specifics To Your Goals

Once you have identified the priority of your goals, note any specific requirements necessary to achieve each goal. Identify the roles each partner will have in achieving each goal. It is important for each member to have a role in each goal, even with individuals goals. Having both partners work toward each goal will help to develop teamwork skills and will strengthen your bond together.

Post Your Goals So You See Them On A Daily Basis

Posting your goals so you both see them every day will help to remind you both about your goals. Keeping your goals fresh in your mind will help you both stay on track and motivate you both to put forth effort daily in achieving your goals. If you don't have a daily reminder about your goals, they may be lost in the shadows of life and forgotten for days, weeks or months. You may not be able to achieve your goals in one day, but if you put forth a little effort each and every day, you consistently move closer to your goals and you will eventually achieve them.

Be Flexible With Your Goals

Being flexible can mean adjusting your timeline, changing how you will achieve your goals or even changing the goals themselves. Things happen in life and what may be important today may no longer be important six months from now. Set checkpoints and milestones where you and your partner can review your goals together and make changes if necessary.

Celebrate Your Achievements

When you reach your milestone or achieve your goals, celebrate your success! This will keep things positive and can help to motivate you and your partner for future and greater success!