When someone asks you about your goals, what comes to mind?
For many, they often fall into the areas of your job and related performance. If your workplace asks you to set benchmarks or you have the desire for a raise or increase in responsibilities, you might set steps for attaining those goals.
Setting goals is often linked to entering a new calendar year. Although a new year offers a fresh start, this time could feel unattainable. Maybe you’ve tried goal setting in the past, and after a couple of weeks or a month, those goals fall by the wayside.
However, goals are not limited to your job, and using the wheel of D.R.E.A.M.s, we think you can make your dreams a reality!
Categories for Goal Setting
You can bring balance into your life by establishing goals in all areas of life.
In addition to work, consider these areas:
- Fun & recreation
- Personal growth
- Family & friends
- Love Partner
- Living environment
- Finances
- Health
Initially, it could be overwhelming to consider each area of life, but the D.R.E.A.M. method can make these areas attainable.
The Wheel of D.R.E.A.M. Goals
The D.R.E.A.M. method from The Cancer Journey Institute for setting goals makes your dreams real. Ask yourself these questions about the goals you’re setting:
D
Do I want this from the bottom of my heart?
R
Is this Real – Can I imagine having this?
E
Does this Excite me?
A
Does this make me feel Alive?
M
Does this Motivate me to take action?
If the answer is yes to all of these, then you are on the right track with goal setting!
Photo: The Cancer Journey Institute
How to set goals when going through cancer treatment
As a cancer patient, it’s common to feel you have lost control over all aspects of life. Treatment and suffering, along with the emotional roller coaster that most cancer patients experience, contribute to feeling your sense of self and even humanity are taken away.
Before actually setting goals, we recommend you spend time thinking about what’s important to you in your life. Then, you can build a set of goals from that. This can restore a sense of control. We’ve seen this method take cancer patients forward in their life, no matter what their prognosis holds for them.
Goals, no matter how small or large, are the oxygen of personal dreams.
A good way to get started is the ask yourself some questions like:
What does life-balance look like for me?
What do I want for my life?
How has my cancer journey changed my outlook on life?
Finally, tracking your thoughts in a journal can also be very helpful in building life goals.
What to do after January 31
If you already set goals on January 1 and you’re going strong, that’s awesome! Our best tip: revisit your list at the start of every month. If something trails behind, create a list of steps to make them happen.
Next, create follow up steps and put deadlines on them.
Want more help setting goals?
For Wheelhouse members, your CancerAlly can help you work through the D.R.E.A.M. exercise specific to your lifestyle and desires! Contact your cancer team today to talk about your goals.
Not a Wheelhouse member?
- Explore the resources Wheelhouse offers cancer patients from diagnosis through survivorship on our website.
- Contact us at wheelhousecares.com/contact to see what’s available for you.
- Share with your employer’s HR team how Wheelhouse cancer benefits could impact your cancer journey. We work side-by-side with employers to offer these benefits, often making Wheelhouse support available at no additional cost for employees.
