Goals make me better, not a new year

With the beginning of every year, people around the world make new goals for themselves:

• “I am going to get fit”
• “I am going to start eating better”
• “I’m going to be more open to a relationship”

I am all for goals, so consequently you would think I would love New Year’s resolutions. However, this isn’t the case.

I would be lying if I said I hadn’t made them before, but I always knew they woudn’t last. Because I went into them knowing they were just a fantastic fantasy of mine, I never really committed.

Subsequently, I felt less guilty when I didn’t follow through. I know that I am not the only one who falls victim to this type of failure.

So I set out to fix it.

Thanks, Target

I have found that simple and vague statements made at the beginning of the year are utterly worthless. As a result, they die out as quickly as the high hopes I had for my Dallas Cowboys this NFL season.

Recently I decided to make goals, not resolutions. I admit I made two goals at the beginning of 2016, I am not calling them resolutions. Just goals that happen to be made at the begging of the year as I am no longer making goals solely because of what day it is.

I have also decided that I am going to make attainable goals that are not left open to interpretation. Beyond that, if I can’t answer why do I want this then they are not goals I want to have.

“Be happier, because why the hell not?!”

For example:

• “I want to eat out less and consume less carbs because my bank account is hurting and because I feel sluggish at work.”
• “I am going to get fit because during move in day I struggled to carry a twenty pound box up four flights of stairs and I am only twenty years old.”
• “I am going to allow myself to be more open to being in a relationship because I feel like I know myself enough to hopefully find someone to challenge me to be even better.”

After you create your goal then you need to commit to it. When I find myself struggling with past goals I take a step back and ask myself why. Since you should have already answered this, it should help you get back on track.

Do note that life happens. Unexpected injuries can make it hard for you to work out. Life speeds up so it becomes harder to stay conscientious of what you are eating. Academic struggles can make it difficult to remain fully open to finding a significant other.

When life throws these curveballs at you and you find it hard to stick to your goal, it is not a failure. Eventually you will be able to work on it or maybe you just need to try harder to get it. If you can answer why, you should still pursue an end result.

Also, always be prod of your progress. You need not only be happy when you get to the end but at every single step you take towards the end.

Finally, make these goals knowing you will reach them. If you go in thinking you won’t make it then you won’t. The mind is a powerful thing and has the ability to shape outcomes.

Now, if you made “resolutions” refine them if you need to. Make goals if you need to. When you reach a goal, don’t wait until 2017 make a new one, make one whenever it is right for you.

Make yourself a better you not only because it is a new year but because you deserve to be the best possible version of you.

Oh. And good luck!