January marks the beginning of a new year—optimistically bringing a clean slate for you to start. Traditionally, people declare New Year’s resolutions to arrive at goals ranging from joining the gym to abstaining from chocolate. We establish personal objectives to obtain a sense of accomplishment over the next twelve months.
If we achieve our goals we check them off as successes and feel good about our accomplishments. But, what if we fail to achieve our goals? Many would say the answer is failure. Why set goals that may lead to disappointment and failure?
And, what if we make minimal gains, but still do not meet our objectives? Setting goals and striving to achieve them, even when we fall short, brings us closer to completion than not setting goals at all. We may gleam some sense of satisfaction from making an effort—there is no need to berate ourselves for not trying.
Making time to reflect over the past year is an opportunity to celebrate our successes as well as determine the areas we could stand to gain some improvement. Taking an honest, non-critical, appraisal of the last year and determining what worked and what might be done differently is an important step to realizing our goals in the future.
We need to start with some type of benchmark, because without one we have an unclear sense of what was accomplished. For instance, if the goal is to lose weight in the coming year, our benchmark is how much we weigh to begin the year. Moreover, we would have to identify the steps and processes that would help us meet our objective. And, we would need to be realistic.
Specifically, poor resolutions are: I resolve to lose weight this year (not specific); or, I will lose 50 pounds this year (unrealistic). A better resolution would be: I resolve to lose 20 pounds during the year by eating healthier, cutting out desserts and sweet snacks, and exercising by briskly walking the dog. But what if I eat healthier and exercise, yet only lose 12 pounds? Have I failed? Of course not, because I weigh twelve pounds less than I would have had I chosen to do nothing. I have made healthy choices and have lost 12 pounds!
If you are wondering how to initiate your resolutions for the New Year, start with pen and paper. Begin the process by writing down whatever comes to mind. Do not edit—you need to get your ideas on the paper. You can go back and edit later after you have finished brainstorming ideas for your list of yearly goals. Long or short, your list and brain storm of ideas does not matter. What matters is your personal investment in achieving the goals on the list. Narrow the list down to clear, specific goals that would prove challenging but not daunting. Finally, share your goals with someone you trust. Explain why you chose certain goals to tackle and describe how you plan to work towards the goals listed. Reading the goals out loud to another person and talking about your plans for the future creates a commitment and accountability to more than yourself.
Consider January an opportunity to assess and take inventory of the last year. Celebrate your successes and chose not to dwell on goals that have not been achieved to your satisfaction. Do not waste your time or your energy on regret. Aspire to meet your yearly goals through determination and effort, rejoicing in your progress.
If we achieve our goals we check them off as successes and feel good about our accomplishments. But, what if we fail to achieve our goals? Many would say the answer is failure. Why set goals that may lead to disappointment and failure?
And, what if we make minimal gains, but still do not meet our objectives? Setting goals and striving to achieve them, even when we fall short, brings us closer to completion than not setting goals at all. We may gleam some sense of satisfaction from making an effort—there is no need to berate ourselves for not trying.
Making time to reflect over the past year is an opportunity to celebrate our successes as well as determine the areas we could stand to gain some improvement. Taking an honest, non-critical, appraisal of the last year and determining what worked and what might be done differently is an important step to realizing our goals in the future.
We need to start with some type of benchmark, because without one we have an unclear sense of what was accomplished. For instance, if the goal is to lose weight in the coming year, our benchmark is how much we weigh to begin the year. Moreover, we would have to identify the steps and processes that would help us meet our objective. And, we would need to be realistic.
Specifically, poor resolutions are: I resolve to lose weight this year (not specific); or, I will lose 50 pounds this year (unrealistic). A better resolution would be: I resolve to lose 20 pounds during the year by eating healthier, cutting out desserts and sweet snacks, and exercising by briskly walking the dog. But what if I eat healthier and exercise, yet only lose 12 pounds? Have I failed? Of course not, because I weigh twelve pounds less than I would have had I chosen to do nothing. I have made healthy choices and have lost 12 pounds!
If you are wondering how to initiate your resolutions for the New Year, start with pen and paper. Begin the process by writing down whatever comes to mind. Do not edit—you need to get your ideas on the paper. You can go back and edit later after you have finished brainstorming ideas for your list of yearly goals. Long or short, your list and brain storm of ideas does not matter. What matters is your personal investment in achieving the goals on the list. Narrow the list down to clear, specific goals that would prove challenging but not daunting. Finally, share your goals with someone you trust. Explain why you chose certain goals to tackle and describe how you plan to work towards the goals listed. Reading the goals out loud to another person and talking about your plans for the future creates a commitment and accountability to more than yourself.
Consider January an opportunity to assess and take inventory of the last year. Celebrate your successes and chose not to dwell on goals that have not been achieved to your satisfaction. Do not waste your time or your energy on regret. Aspire to meet your yearly goals through determination and effort, rejoicing in your progress.