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By Liz Goulding
I often feel a sense of relief when the holidays are over. There’s a weight that feels lifted, and I look forward to the sense of possibilities that a new year brings.
No matter how you normally approach New Year’s resolutions, most people have discarded their well-meaning plans by February. The energy that comes with the New Year is a great catalyst, but it’s unlikely to be what gets you over the finish line.
The way you approach goals matters. Focus on the behaviors that will lead you to achieve them. Here are some suggestions for how to break your objective down and rebuild it so that it guides you toward success.
- Ask yourself “What do I hope to have when I achieve my goal that I don’t have now?”
- Take a moment to write down everything you hope to have after you achieve your goal. Be as specific as possible about what you think you’ll gain (not what other people want
for you). - Take all the outcomes you just listed and choose a few that are most important to you. It’s important that you find them compelling. These are your new long-term goals.
- Under each one, think about how a person who’s already achieved those things behaves. What do they do, and how do they think and feel?
- Write that list out as well. These are your new behavior goals.
- Ask yourself, “What’s one small step that I can take this week that will bring me closer to my goal?”
This process will help breathe life into your objective. For example, a weight-loss goal could be transformed into targets like having more energy and feeling comfortable and capable in your body. Now you’re looking forward to cooking meals at home that you enjoy, moving on a daily basis and spending time with supportive friends. This way of thinking opens up the path so that it’s a place of possibilities, not restriction.
It’s important to create a meaningful connection with your goal and then pair that with practical steps that will help you reach it over time. You don’t have to do everything today, but you should do something most days. Each small step will bring you closer to your achievement, and you’ll enjoy the process.
Not every day or week will turn out like you planned. I always tell my clients that there is no failure; there’s only learning. When you try something and it doesn’t work, it’s an opportunity to ask, “How does that inform what I’d like to try next?”
There’s nothing quite like setting a goal and then actually achieving it, and right now the world desperately needs you and all you have to offer. My hope for you in 2021 is that you’re able to find the tenacity, creativity and resilience you need to bring your goals and dreams to life.
Liz Goulding is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach who lives in Oak Cliff. She helps clients feel their best so they can make room for more of what they want in life. Reach her at lizgoulding@gmail.com.
