Goal for it

Let's Goal for it !

For many, January 1 is a reset. A time to reflect and to set new goals. However, the days leading up can be daunting. There comes a point during the year where some of realize we forgot our New Year's resolutions. Our commitment to creating a "new me" fades away with our motivation. But, this year, there is an opportunity to do things differently. There are a few main reasons why this happens.

Timing is everything.

New Years celebrations and resolutions have existed for nearly 4000 years. On record, Ancient Babylonians were the first to celebrate something similar to our current tradition. This time was highly celebrated and recognized by them. They had a 12 day festival and made promises to do better in the new year. While our idea of New Years resembles their celebrations, they did not celebrate these new beginnings on January 1.

The Babylonians celebrated new beginnings in Mid-March when they planted their crops. It was not until 46 BC when Julius Ceasar deemed January 1 as the New Year. January was named after one of their gods, Janus, the god of doors. During this time, Romans made promises of self-growth and improvement to the gods.

There is a lesson I think we can learn from both of these societies. The New Year was representative of a special time in their lives. Although both the Ancient Babylonians and Romans had differing opinions of the New Year, they shared similar practices. They celebrated a time that was meaningful to them. That's what we should do.

It's easy to feel pressured to create New Year's resolutions on January 1, but is it necessary? We are all on different paths and journeys, so new beginnings may look different for us. I have noticed that when I set goals during a time that is relevant to my life, I am more committed. It feels natural. But if I am trying to force myself to make changes prematurely, or putting off my passion until the New Year, fatigue is much stronger. No one knows our lives better than we do, so we should allow ourselves to choose when to set goals and declare new beginnings.

What's your "why"?

In addition to choosing the right time to create goals and resolutions, it is just as important to identify the "why". A few years ago, I gave up on resolutions because I rarely ever followed through. Each year, I felt bad about myself and like even more of a failure. I was pressuring myself to come up with goals that I was not ready to set. So, I would often get on social media or get lost in the Google rabbit hole trying to find a goal that sounded appropriate to adopt. Now, I am committed to choosing goals that are representative of who I am and the path that I am on. As a result, I do not wake up with an overwhelming sense of defeat or dread. I am not excited to embark on this journey and get one step closer to my goal.

Be still and really reflect on your "why". Having a clear understanding of why you are choosing each goal will help center you. Stillness also helps us identify our needs and how to show up for ourselves in meaningful ways.

Prep yo' self before you reck yo' self

Preparation is key. No real change happens overnight. It takes time, patience, lots of rejection with a sprinkle of failure. It's natural and helps us develop wisdom and knowledge along the way. But, just like we pack before going on a long trip or camping, we need to do the same thing before we start working towards our goals. It's important to assess what skills and resources are needed to be successful in reaching our goals. We should also consider potential challenges we may face along the way. While we cannot predict everything, it doesn't hurt to be as proactive as possible. This will help lessen the blow to our confidence and motivation when we face adversity.

Be specific about where you're going and what you need to get there.

Find your people

We are not meant to live in isolation. No change is easy, but it's worth it . We are always better together. Identify people that can help hold you accountable and build those relationships. But remember, not everyone is meant to be in every part of your life. It's okay if there are some people you don't include in this season of your life. Build a community that you can rely on and that will support you as you work towards bettering yourself.

Have fun and go easy on yourself!

Life is all about learning. If we always got it right or stayed the course, we would not be who we are today. We are not perfect, and never will be. SO go easy on yourself. Being punitive towards yourself is not accountability and will not make your work harder. Trust me, I've tried. You can still hold yourself accountable while practicing self compassion.

Life is stressful enough, there is no sense in stressing yourself out about things that are out of your control. This journey is going to be messy, and it's going to be hard, and it's going to make you question yourself in more ways than one. But rain brings growth. It'll be okay! Practice gratitude in each moment, and take it all in because one day these tough moments are going to help you solve some of life's greatest questions. I believe in you, even if you don't believe in you.

Let's Goal for it !

All too often, I set pretty goals and resolutions or read motivational messages and get pumped. Soon after, I lose that motivation and feel spiritually and emotionally lethargic. Sometimes, I even forget that I set some goals. So I have created a planner for anyone who is like me and wants to find ways to hold themselves accountable while also keeping tracking of their goals.

Here is a free template that I created for us! There are 7 pages for you to choose from. Click on the picture below.

Check out my episode where I dive a little deeper into this topic.

Check in with me! I want to hear how you're doing.

Click the picture above to access the complete document.

xoxo,

B