As we approach the end of another year, it’s natural for all of us to reflect on the events that took place for the past 365 days. Whether our intention was to eat healthier, live a more active lifestyle, spend more time with loved ones, or read that book that’s been on our list for months, it seems that this time of year routinely brings about a season of reflection.
We tend to focus on the personal goals we hoped to accomplish, some that were a success, some that are a continued work in progress, and some that didn’t work out so well. But as dental professionals, it is equally important for us to reflect on those same aspects as they relate to our career and envision how we would like to move forward into both the new year and the years to come.
When I was a dental student, we had a guest speaker talk to us about our futures post-graduation. One of his biggest recommendations for success was to write down our goals on a piece of paper. I remember thinking how trivial it seemed at the time given that I was mostly focused on that next big exam or the clinical performance assessment looming over my head. What would you like your life to look like in 5 years? How will you make decisions today, tomorrow, and when you graduate to help fulfill those goals? I still have that list. I often refer back to it and compare some of those goals with where I am now both professionally and personally.
There’s a lot of power in writing things down. It helps to serve as a detailed visualization of the future, organizes our thoughts, and helps us to envision the steps necessary to accomplish those goals. Research supports that people who write down and vividly describe their goals are 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to accomplish them.
One of my goals for the new year is to implement this practice and acknowledge its power as it applies to both my personal and professional life. Whether you hope to achieve more goals in the new year or not, consider the benefits of being more intentional with your day-to-day life and how that could positively impact you, your family, your staff and your patients.