Goals or New Year Resolutions

Happy New Year. I would say 2020 is a year of trials and tribulations. I remember on most of the motivational webinars that I attended mentioned that "we are in the same storm but we are not in the same boat." I concur with the statement because everyone faced things differently during this pandemic period. Even though there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel (the vaccine), many lives were tragically lost. With the new year just started, I believe that most of us had made their goals or resolutions.

Goals or New Year Resolutions

New Year resolutions are statements to improve their life at the start of the new year (e.g. quit smoking, losing weight, drink less sugary drinks). It is usually written in a note pad at 12 midnight of 31st December or 1st January and more often than not, it is usually forgotten within a week or so after the new year. Honestly, I went through the process almost every year and I wasn't feeling the impact that I wanted.

What about goals? Goal according to me is liken to having a vision. A goal is an idea of the future or desired result that a person envisions, plans and commits to achieve. I am sure that most of us are familiar with the acronym S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time Bound.) Having a goal is something that you will endevour and gives your utmost best in wanting to achieve it.

There is no right or wrong to anyone who wants to use the term ‘goal’ or ‘New Year Resoultions.’ It is a matter of choice. In my life, I choose to set goals. Here are some reasons as to why I choose to set up goals.

Reason Behind the Goal

For me, the S.M.A.R.T way is the next step of achieving your goal. Once you had set up your mind to a goal, give yourself a few minutes to think and reflect about the goal. Questions like,

‘Why is this goal important for me?’

‘Why do you want to achieve this goal?’

‘Am I excited, challenged, passionate and others towards this goal?’

‘What would I feel like upon achieving this goal?’

‘What’s next for me upon achieving this goal?’

The more reflection you have towards your goal, I believe the desire on achieving the goal will be greater.

Intention + Mechanisms = Results

I want you to take a look at the above equation. Take a few moments and ask yourself on the percentage that you will give for each component. For example, my intention is create a loving and caring family. There are several mechanisms that I am sure you can think to create it. And what do you think the results will show? Right, a loving and caring family is formed. Let’s say you put it as 50% Intention and 50% Mechanisms, you will still get 100% but do want to create a 50% loving and caring family? Is there such love at 50%? Can you care for someone at only 50%? My personal take on this equation would be 100% Intention + 0% Mechanism = 100% Results. If the intention is clear, then the mechanisms will fall into place and you will get your results. I want us to take a look at the results that we have in our lives. I am sure that all the positive and success results that happen in your life, you will attribute to you and those around you and more often than not when it doesn’t turn up the way you want, you will find excuses, or someone to blame or some reasons. My suggestion would be to look at the results whether is it good or not good and see it something to be grateful about. Do not dwell too long on any success or failures but learn from it and move on to your what you want to achieve.

Feedbacks

Along your way on achieving your goals, you will need feedbacks. I used to believe that when giving someone feedback, I might be hurting their feeling. I usually bottle it up even though I might that this person is not doing the things that might help them reach their goals. Feedback is valuable information that allows us to see things that we don’t see. Such information will allow us to see on whether am I on track or off track in achieving my goals. When I give feedback, it is best to check on your intentions and not just plain ‘attacking’ the person. It is good to ask for feedback and if you are giving feedback, be clear and it would be a good practise to ask permission to the person you are giving feedback.

Enjoying the process

The goals that you had set may not be a straightforward path. I am sure that the route will be filled with ups and downs just like a roller coaster. There will be breakdowns. These breakdowns can break you and wither you down. Remember the questions that you asked yourself prior in making this goal this will come in handy in facing the breakdowns. The long process will be painstaking but I would like to encourage you to enjoy the process. There will be days that you might not feel like doing process, find alternatives, ask for assistance and ‘dig’ deep in yourself to overcome those days.

At the end of the day, I would like to wish you every success in the goals that you had set yourself. I want you to know that all successful person starts from nothing and it is the one who shows consistency, faith, dedication, passion and ‘never-give-attitude’ will bear success in achieving the goals.