Avoiding the Tiger Woods Trap!

We are at the time of year where many of us are thinking about our goals and aspirations for the New Year.

Whether you love New Year’s Resolutions and hard core goal-setting or you like to allow life to unfold as you co-construct with the moment, one thing is assured; those who take time to mark, measure and reflect on who they are being, how they are living, and expressing their life, will be more likely to sustain success. And more likely to experience a renewable source of fulfillment while also staying true to themselves.

Often forgotten in the pursuit of a goal, success does not equal fulfillment. Just ask anybody who has achieved it. Success does not make you a better person – or a more evolved being – and certainly does not assure you to be a greater friend, partner, parent or leader.

Rushing with the surging pace of activity that often accompanies us is the adrenalin and distraction of seeming success. With such a pulse in our body we can unconsciously move moment-to-moment, week-to-week and year-to-year without stopping, nor reviewing or measuring how effectively we are marking up to our core values, life principals and basic ideals.

While we are unlikely to know much about Tiger Wood’s personal process, I wonder since his father’s passing, how and with whom he has been assessing his ideals and reviewing his choices and behaviours?

While most people have been disheartened and disappointed by Tiger’s actions, he is not necessarily dissimilar to ourselves.

When was the last time you took some solid time, focus and space to review your relationship to yourself, your values and how you are living up to your ideals? How out of sync and to what degree are you betraying yourself and what you agreed to? How far has it got for you? And who have you hurt and disrespected in this timeframe?

Before you forge into the New Year, pursuing your greatest aspirations or simply attempting to survive a tumultuous time, I encourage you to take one full day (at least) to review this last year, your last 5 years, and your last 10 years. Take the time to reflect and evaluate who and how you are being and how effectively you are living up to your ideals.

Of course, you do not have wait for year-end for such a life inventory and review of how and who you are being. At any time during the year you may prosper from this process and most certainly before any major life decisions, goal setting or visioning process.

20-20 Vision – Questions for self-reflection and exploration

May this next year of your life be your best year yet!  May you experience more momentum, a source of fulfillment and maintain your integrity to yourself and others.

Image © AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee