What's the plan?
We all hit the New Year running, with the best of intentions to achieve great things. Actually, crushing those goals though can be a challenge. Especially if you feel like your track record in the past hasn't been great.
The good news is, it's a brand-new year. You're starting fresh, and the past doesn't matter as much as you think it does. The key to making this your best year ever lies in these six vital tips.
What Did you Expect to Happen?
You start with an honest assessment of what you've done (or not done) before. If you haven't been meeting your goals, you might want to check your expectations, especially if you've been looking at 'overnight success' stories as your inspiration. Remember, those 'inspiring tales' ignore all the hard work going on in the background required to create that success. With this in mind, ask yourself what's reasonable when you set your goals.
What's Working?
The focus of your thoughts is more important than you think. If you start obsessing on the mistakes and failures along the way, you're guaranteed not to make any forward progress. Instead, check your self-talk with a new focus on the positive. Tell yourself about your successes instead. Remind yourself of everything you've done right thus far. Take failure as lessons to be learned, not as roadblocks.
Write it Down...
Why is it so easy to remember what went wrong while successes drift past, soon forgotten? The key here is to write down when things go right. Keeping a journal of your achievements becomes more than a written record of your work. This is a tool you can pull out, again and again, to encourage you in the year to come. Nothing inspires more than the reminder that you got it right before and can again.
Clear Your Mind...
Sometimes it's our own brain working against us. We get cynical about the past, about what we're doing today, and where we're going. Practicing mindfulness clears your mind of negative clutter and helps you to center yourself again so you can move forward without dragging around negative baggage.
What's Your Five?
Every day find five things you can do to get you closer to your goal. These shouldn't be big things, but small, easy to accomplish tasks. Crossing these items off of the list every single day will push you along in surprising ways. You'll be at your goal before you know it.
Dare to Accomplish Great Things...
Sometimes you just need to take a chance. Dream big. Take a leap of faith. It's an awesome feeling when you propel yourself to new heights.
Do these things and crush this New Year. It's going to be amazing!