If you get excited about the idea of making your next year the best you've experienced thus far, keep reading. This exercise is all about you accelerating toward your best you.

(Note: This exercise comes from a chapter in a book that I'm co-authoring. Hope you enjoy this.)

I've been doing this particular goal setting exercise for 7 years now and I can say that every single year, my life gets better and better. It's not that the situations are getting easier and easier, I'm growing, in a good way. This is an exercise that I tend to share with friends and clients (life coaching) from time to time. I thought I'd put it together in the form of a guide that others can follow.

PRO TIP: If you are in a romantic relationship that you want to exponentially grow, do this exercise together.

When I first did this exercise with my girlfriend, it really solidified our relationship. As we journeyed through the year, it really felt like our relationship was going to the same destination. Something I have never experienced with a romantic partner. That was 6 years ago. We're married now :) And our marriage is good. We even have a little one running around and she's the cutest thing ever. I'm a dad now, and I love it.

Goal Setting in a 6-Step Process

Though this 6-step exercise is designed to be done before you start the next year, don't worry if you are just starting it now. Do it today! This weekend! Soon! You'll earn yourself bragging rights in mid January when your friends are chatting about New Years resolutions. This roaring lion process makes resolutions look like dandy lions. See what I did there? I can .. I'm a dad ;)

All in all, this is meant to serve you and give you ideas. Not bog you down.

The steps are as follows:

1. Start from a place of gratitude
2. Give the previous year a name... this helps you to let go of the past.
3. Give the “next chapter of your life” a name
4. Brainstorm goals that (1) begin with a verb and (2) are s.m.a.r.t.
5. Determine your most important goal(s) (and scratch out ones that don't make sense)
6. Identify specific behaviors to make sure your goal happens*

You'll first get you in the right mind-set to craft your ideal year. Then dream. Then prioritize. And finally you will learn how to put your goals on auto-pilot.

PRO TIPS:

(1) Block out at least an entire morning, afternoon, or evening. Though this can be done in 1 hour, I recommend taking your time with it. You are planning an entire year of awesomeness.
(2) Make sure you are in a good physiological state (rested and fed) before doing this exercise.
(3) This exercise is very powerful to do with a spouse or life partner.

*My favorite apps for tracking daily behaviors to form habits are Coach.me and Way of Life. My favorite apps for tracking recurring weekly and monthly behaviors is Nozbe.