A new year brings new opportunities to set new goals and try new things. Trying new things brings new opportunities to face difficulty that might cause you to fail. Failing brings new opportunities to decide if you will continue and try again or if you will simply quit.
It seems a little strange talking about yearly goal setting and failing doesn't it? Well, this year I think it may be helpful to start with the end of the year in mind. Ask yourself this question. How do you want to finish this statement this time next year? "In January I set three goals and throughout the year I ________________________."
Was committed to them and worked hard to make healthy choices a part of my day-to-day life. Although there were difficulties and times when I did not do as well as I thought I might, I stuck to my commitment toward my goals and I reached them.
Quit on all of them because when things got tough I gave up and went back to the old habits I started the year with because it was easier than following through on my commitment to myself.
Found the process to be more difficult than I thought it would be. I was surprised by how tough it was some days to follow through on things but I stuck with it through the difficulties and I am 50 percent closer to my goals than I was a year ago.
Last year I had you rate your commitment to weight loss and to evaluate if it was the right level to reach your goals. As you begin to think about the goals you will set for 2012, start by re-evaluating your level of commitment to yourself and to reaching the goals you will set. Answer this question about why you are even setting goals.
I am setting New Year's goals because:
It is something people do at the beginning of the year but I never expect to achieve them.
I want to make changes in my life but life always seems to get in the way.
I feel like self improvement is important but I find it very hard to focus on it in my day-to-day life but I'm going to give it a try.
I set them each year and build on the ones I have reached the year before. When I look back at the last few years I am pleased by the positive ways my life has changed.
As you begin to think about set New Year's goals as well as what those goals will be, here are four ideas and some motivational videos to get you started.
1) Confucious says, "Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall." Great people in history have failed but their determination and vision for what is possible kept them getting back up and moving toward success.
2) Aristotle said, "Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." Confidence comes as habits develop and things no longer seem as difficult. Believe in yourself, commit to working hard and anything is possible. Make no excuses for the barriers but find ways to go around those barriers so you can own the results and achieve your goal.
3) You are the creator of your own destiny! Setbacks and even failure are simply stepping-stones to success. You can decide to turn any negative into a positive and adjust your plans to keep you working toward the goal.
4) "I'm too tired", "it's too early", "work was a hassle", "it takes too much time", "it costs too much", "I don't know how to"… Start the year by saying no to excuses. Decide to own your decisions instead of making excuses for less than ideal situations. There is no such thing as perfect so choose to take whatever day, circumstance, or obstacle you are given. Then, decide how you will make the situation work in your favor to move you closer to your goals.
How will you start the year with the end of the year in mind? What do you have on your "bucket list" that could become a reality this year?
.jpg)
