Resolutions, goals, intentions… Whatever you call them, January tends to be a time that we sit down and consider what we want to achieve during the year.
It is very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that goals never succeed. Diets become hard to stick to, saving for that summer holiday can fall by the wayside when a car fails its MOT, or life can sometimes just get in the way and/or motivation wanes. It is important to remember that these are all just small distractions and maintaining a focus on what matters can drive us through this pain barrier.
Context is important in achieving goals. Remembering that the slice of cake you consumed in a moment of weakness represents a very small number of calories over a month of dieting and will not make a vast difference over time. Its having a piece every day that harms. What if you were to focus on the number of consecutive days you have managed to go without sneaking a treat? If you managed 14, can you make it 15 next time?
…and that car bill that made you break into your holiday savings really demotivated you, yet you still have the bigger proportion of your savings left. How important is that holiday to you? Has that actually changed because you have less money? Of course not! So it’s time to think about how you can recoup your shortfall, perhaps skipping a couple of meals out or going to a car boot sale.
I do love how cathartic it feels to sit down with a brand new empty diary. I always have a pretty A5 desk diary with lots of space to plan or write and start by reviewing the previous year, taking the time to capture the great moments of the year, achievements – anything of note and have small celebrations of each.
What about the stuff I failed to achieve? I do not dwell on it. It is time to refocus. If I did not achieve a goal, why was that? Is it still important to me? If the answer is “yes” then I simply carry it forward, if it is a “no” then I forget it – there is no room here for negative thoughts.
I also consider the new ideas and goals I want to focus on. What will it take to achieve this? Can I break the intentions into small achievable chunks? Where are the weak spots, the things like cake and large bills that may get in the way – can I pre-empt the demotivational events and have a plan in place to work around them?
Part of my job is to support people in achieving their goals and making life changes, no matter how small, I can help. Give me a call on 07714 216388 today to chat things through.
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