Make Goals, Not Resolutions
Ireally hate hearing about new year “resolutions.” In fact, I find this term to be about as annoyingas “irregardless.”
Oddlyenough, I have a favorable view when people tell me about “goals” for the new year. Before you start telling me that the difference is merelysemantics, let’s take a closer look at each one.
Formany people, resolutions might be some form of the following (note: the itemslisted below were once my own resolutions, so I’m as guilty as the nextperson):
- Lose “X amount” of pounds
- Eat healthier
- Make more money
- Find a new job
Now,tell me if you see a difference between the resolutions stated above, and thetweaked equivalents below:
- Lose 10 pounds by eatinghealthier, working hard at the gym, and learning the most effectivetechniques for weight loss
- Find a position and companythat will support my need for professional growth, while increasing my immediateand future income potential.
See the difference? That’s because a resolution is a form ofhope, while the second list is full of goals that are complete with somesemblance of a plan. A goal is somethingspecific, a resolution is a wish.
Iwould always fall into the age old trap of making a resolution only to see it fizzle by the end of January. Why?Because until recently, I didn’t realize my own disconnect between hoping forchange...and actually acting for it.
Sowhat are my goals for the new year? Well,I’m glad you asked! Here are a few thatI’ve carefully thought out:
- Continue learning by reading atleast 1 hour, and writing 30 minutes every single day.
- Overhead Press 200 pounds.
- Break the 400 pound barrier onconventional deadlifts with great form.
- Book trips home for the rest ofthe year within the next two months. This strategy will help myself get home more often (and not leaveit up in the air).
WhileI do have a few others, I hope you’ll agree that these goals are all tangibleand something I can easily - or in the case of the Overhead Press, not soeasily – accomplish.
Insteadof looking for hope or change this year, figure out something tangible. Then, formulate your own plan and get afterit. As Dan John once said, make sureyour goal remains, in fact, your goal.
Thepathway to realizing your goals is often very simple…but sticking to it? That’s the hard part.