Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something.
Goal: The result of achievement toward which effort is directed.
I don’t believe in resolutions. I can say “I resolute to cut out sugar this year!” The moment I go crazy after a month of no sugar and eat an entire bag of peanut butter M&M’s…FAIL! “I resolute to go to the gym 5 days a week in 2013.” Uh-oh. I got sick or a family emergency came up. My body just needed a break. I just didn’t want to go today….FAIL! Instead of New Years resolutions and setting yourself up for disappointment, why not make New Years Goals? I believe in goals and I believe in writing down my goals and putting them somewhere I’m sure to see them every day as a reminder of what I want to achieve. I also believe in making short term goals (weekly and monthly) and long term goals (yearly and 5 year goals). Sit down and start with envisioning where you see yourself at the end of this year. Thats your long term goal for 2013. To make sure you reach that goal you need to make mini goals. What will you do this week that will help you reach that long term goal? If it’s weight loss, how many days will you be in the gym? Make a food plan and stick to it. What is your goal weight for the end of the first month? Write it down! Its much easier to take it a week at a time. What if something happens and you fall off the wagon? Don’t worry about it. You didn’t fail, you just didn’t make a step forward that day or week. That doesn’t mean you won’t reach your goal. No need to give up. We all mess up. The best of the BEST mess up. Remember you set GOALS, you didn’t make a resolution (giving yourself no room to screw up). What do you do when this happens and you fall off that wagon? Go get those goals you wrote down and ask yourself, “is this still my goal?” If so, you wake up with a clean slate and a new day to conquer. If not, take time to reflect on what your new goals are and what steps you will take to reach them. This works for health goals, financial goals, business goals…whatever you’re working towards.
I myself am taking time to really think about the woman I want to be and the woman I want others to see. I have a certain look I one day wanna see again, I have a certain heart that I want others to see when they meet me, I have a certain relationship I wanna have with Jesus and with my friends and my family…there’s a mental, spiritual, and physical strength that I want to obtain. I know, thats a lot, and I know there are certain things that I need to do to become this woman. I’m writing down the characteristics of this person I want to be. If there is certain things I need to improve upon, I need to figure out how I’m gonna make that happen. I’m also gonna share these goals with a friend that I truly believe wants the best for me and loves me enough to be honest with me. This is a good idea because it holds you accountable and sometimes you also need another set of eyes. Sometimes you don’t see the beauty in yourself that others see and completely opposite of that, you don’t always see your faults. A true friend is always good to lift you up or set you straight when needed, and knowing what they say is in love makes it better to handle.
Two thoughts to leave you with. Remember…a goal not written down is only a wish and the choices you make today affect how you feel and look tomorrow.
DREAM BIG, my friends!
