As we start off the new year, it is a time we often think about goals and things we want to change, things we “should” do, and how we actually do it all! You may not even think about goals anymore because you have lost hope that you can actually do anything about the things you care about.

So, instead of just setting goals, shift your focus this year to filling your year with HOPE. Hope is a cognitive process, and the skills that support hope are aligned with how we like to describe the process of HOPE: Heading, Opportunity & Obstacles, Power & Partnerships, and Expect to Grow.

As you focus on implementing the process of HOPE, rather than just setting goals, you will find that your goals and your ability to move toward them become more meaningful and sustainable.

The process of hope is all about ensuring that your goals support your overall purpose and direction, and that you have access to the energy, capacity, knowledge and problem-solving skills that are needed to deal with what life throws at you or your organization along the way.

Because hope, and success, aren’t about being able to know everything at the beginning of the journey. It’s about growing the skills to move in the right direction with the waypower and willpower to adapt and grow with the unexpected.

Review the slideshow below for questions to consider in each element of the HOPE process.