Setting Goals and Actually Achieving Them

The midpoint of the calendar year is almost upon us and I recently had a discussion with someone that was really eye-opening.

Every year, millions of people take it upon themselves to set a goal, or a “New Year’s Resolution.” These resolutions include, but are certainly not limited to, cutting out fast food, reading 150 books, exercising 5 days a week, or the one my wife and I used this year: no more soda.

The beginning of the year is easy. We feel motivated and gain a sense of accomplishment every time we make a decision that supports our goal. Days will go by and turn to weeks and weeks will go by and turn to months. But sooner or later, millions of us break our resolutions at some point.

So I thought to myself… why is that?

Is it because “life happened” and we are thrown into our old ways of “comfort” or are the goals we set for ourselves simply unobtainable or unrealistic?

The motivation we feel when starting a new goal is at a peak. The dopamine spikes you receive will make you feel on top of the world!

But, life is life. You or someone you take care of might get sick, you might go through a break up or a divorce, or a number of other things may happen that cause a “bump” in your progress and the temptation to alter your goal or stop it entirely will grow.

How do we avoid this? Do we shut ourselves away and just simply never expose ourselves to the possibility of breaking our goals and our progress? Do we say “Ah, maybe I’ll try again next year” and throw in the towel?

No. It’s actually quite simple. Motivation will sway up and down throughout everyday life. So instead of using your motivation, or lack thereof, to decide whether or not you stick to your goal today, what we really should be focusing on is our discipline.

Many of the resolutions we set are lifestyle changing goals and plans. That doesn’t, and will not, come easily. Discipline is what will see us through, not our motivation.

So how do we fix this?

Practice.

Begin by getting yourself into positive habits. When you wake up in the morning and brush your teeth, make your bed. Do this daily.

Once that feels right, add something else to your routine. Stick to this and keep adding things and your discipline will grow without even realizing it.

When it comes to goals, we achieve them the same way we build our morning routines. With discipline. To win the war against yourself, you need to realize and accept the fact that you are the sole person in complete control of achieving your goals. Discipline will find its way past every obstacle.

We also have to realize that time does not stop and restart the second December 31st becomes January 1st. Time is going to move. The Earth completes 365.25 rotations in each revolution around the sun. That will happen whether or not you stick to your goals. That will happen whether or not the events that cause you to stray from your goals ever take place.

With discipline, we reach our goals.

Where are you in the journey of your New Year’s Resolution? Did you stick to it? If not, when did you stop? Let me know in the comments below!

Reflecting and “checking-in” on ourselves is a crucial part to any goal setting, so take some time to do that today.

Good vibes only. Let’s get back to it and accomplish our goals!