One goal, one day at a time

-Written by Heidi Powell

It’s that time of year again.

You know…that time of year when at least 45% of us make those New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight, or save money, or get out of debt, or go back to school, or cross off that bucket list item…and on and on.

Why is it, then, that on December 31st, only 8% of resolution makers are successful? Why do we have a hard time achieving any goal, no matter when we begin? Why is it so hard to do what we know we need to do? What quenched that burning fire we felt on day 1 of this “fresh start,” and how can we reignite it and be successful goal achievers? It might take some trial and error to find your fire, but go for it—you’re so worth it!

Here are my six solutions for reigniting, and then keeping your goal-achieving fire burning brightly—with some motivational quotes thrown in for some extra kindling:

1. Have a heart-to-heart conversation with yourself and ask—and answer—the hard questions: Why do I want to achieve this goal? How will my life be better by achieving it? If this is a repeat goal, why did I fall (because we never fail!) the last time? What will I do differently this time?

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. ~Unknown

The best goal has a deeper motivation—that burning fire you feel within: to get a better job, to be able to play with your kids without feeling like you’re going to die, to retire at a certain age, etc. And while a goal to fit into that pair of jeans might get you started, it’s probably not a long-term motivator. Find that “burning fire” purpose and you’re good to go!

Purpose is the most powerful motivator in the world. ~Gandhi

2.  Prioritize:  If your calendar and to-do list don’t match up with your goal, you’ve got a problem.

You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage…to say “no” to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger “YES” burning inside. ~ Stephen Covey

Yes, you need to take care of life and the people in your life, but if your to-do list is full of too many low-priority “other” things, you’ve lost your bigger, burning YES! Carefully prioritize your life and make sure those YESs are front and center.

3.  Replace fear with courage: The fear of failure is a huge fear we all have to deal with when committing to a goal, and the hardest part of reaching that goal is often convincing ourselves we can change even though we’re afraid! One of the easiest ways to find the courage amongst your fears is to make and keep one small Promise to yourself. Success ignites even more courage!

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all. ~Disney’s “The Princess Diaries”

4.  Celebrate every single success, no matter how small: Set up your own reward system—it works for kids, why wouldn’t it work for you?! Make your rewards something tangible, motivating, and goal-related, and remember that each tiny success makes that fire burn even hotter, so celebrate!

People who succeed have momentum. The more they succeed, the more they want to succeed, and the more they find a way to succeed. ~Tony Robbins

5.  Be realistic:

• Achieving this goal will definitely make your life better, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it will make life “perfect.” If you do, you’re setting yourself up for a big fall.
• Be prepared to fall, and when you do, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and confess, reassess, and recommit to your goal. Remember: Falling is not failing!
• Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. Feeling comfortable is definitely a fire extinguisher!

Life is not meant to be lived in your comfort zone. ~Laurel Day

6.  Some other ways to keep that fire burning:

• Work on one goal at a time and make sure it’s a SMART Goal.
• If you don’t know where to start, do some research, ask others, and become a budding expert. 
• Just begin. Focus on one small thing you can do today to move closer to your goal. Get on that treadmill for just 5 minutes, deposit $5 in a savings account, or look over your resume. One small thing.
• Prepare for and take care of small bumps in the road before they become huge roadblocks to your success.

And remember, finding your fire and keeping it burning brightly is all up to you—no one can do it for you.

You got this!