As we head into the new year, we have the opportunity to use this special time to our benefit. This is an amazing time for new beginnings, changes, and transformation. Although it is true that our minds are more open to and confident about taking decisive action during this time, the truth is, many people fail to stay consistent with their target throughout the year. As a result, too often these resolutions get put off to the following year or discarded entirely.
In this article, we share with you the four pitfalls to look out for when setting and moving towards your targets, as well as ways to ensure your success.
- Generalized targets. We often say things like “I want to work out more” or “I will do this at some point this year”, and as a result, we set ourselves up for failure. The problem with “more” is that even if we take action, or perhaps even start seeing results, it is likely to still feel “not good enough” feel unfulfilled by the result because there was no clear and measurable target. After all, how can we get “there” if we have no idea where we are going. Similar to a GPS system, your mind needs coordinates to take you where you want to go. This same concept applies to not setting a clear time frame for your goal. Remember that ideally we want the target to feel doable but be a bit of a stretch, to get you out of your comfort zone.
- Lack of a “why” or having a weak “why”. If we do not feel motivated by our goal then we are very unlikely to make the consistent effort necessary to accomplish it. Our why often come from a “should” or a “must”, which comes with the heaviness of expectations rather than being sources from our joy. When setting your next goal, ask yourself why. Why do you really want what you want? If, for example, you would like to lose weight, why is that important to you? “So you can be healthier” is unlikely to get one to the gym each time. Go deeper, asking yourself: what would health really give you? Make your why clear and meaningful for you.
- Marathon overwhelm. Some goals are too big and overwhelming, others seem too simple and not exciting enough, resulting in us not taking any action at all. It is known that many successful people focus primarily on one goal per quarter. One can have several goals, of course, however, one of them is to be emphasized and undoubtedly prioritized over the others for that specific quarter. With that in mind, it is important to know your own limits and patterns. Do you light up easily but have trouble keeping up with your goal? Do you have trouble getting started but can stay consistent once you get enough momentum? Do you tend to move steadily throughout the whole process?
Some people can stay focused and dedicated to one cause for three months, others can’t, and therefore need the goal to be broken down into smaller monthly or weekly targets, which they can repeatedly recommit to. Remember that a large part of success depends on your ability to be consistent in the long run, as well as build self-trust and self-reliance. - Analysis paralysis. Have you ever been in a situation where you had so many options that you ended up not choosing anything at all? Analysis paralysis may have been behind it. Finally going for what you want and/or getting out of our comfort zone can be overwhelming. It is also a perfect opportunity for our minds to magnify this experience and to keep us stuck. Remember that in most cases it is better to flip a coin, make a mistake, and then alter it rather than to remain in the frozen state of fear, anxiety, overwhelm, and inaction. What is the one yes-step you can take towards your goal today?
Have you caught yourself doing any of these? If so, this is your chance to bring it to awareness and begin to consciously alter this pattern.
Here’s to you have the most phenomenal year yet!
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