Here’s a challenge to rethink your new year’s resolutions. This year – just set one goal. One big meaningful goal that adds to your story; something that defines you! Abandon the norm and break from convention by scrapping that endless list of the predictable things you hope to improve.
Rethink your new year’s resolutions by setting one meaningful GOAL that adds to your story!
The new year provides a chance to reflect on the past AND plan for the future. Reflecting is easy enough, but setting goals or resolutions for the year ahead – that can be an uncomfortable endeavor. So much so, recent estimates and surveys suggest, at most, only about 40% of us set resolutions for the new year.
So what’s the deal? We all talk about resolutions and goals, but less than half of us actually set them… We can do better than that!
I believe the aversion to resolution making or goal setting is two fold. (1) Most goals set around the new year are very predictable and generic and (2) we set too many goals making it unrealistic to complete them all. This second reason leads to abandoning goals soon after setting them because we set ourselves up to fail. After quitting one goal, the rest soon fall like dominos, and we never review our list again for fear of feeling like a failure.
It’s a bummer cycle and one that I’m guilty of too.
Here’s an example… I was sitting on an airplane, flying home from an NYE weekend in Vegas. I was in the window seat feverishly jotting out my goals for the new year. I was feeling very proud of myself for filling a whole sheet of a legal pad! (facepalm)
Looking back, I realize I was setting unrealistic expectations. I’d be lucky to get even half that list accomplished in the year ahead. I was setting myself up to fail.
Most Common New Year Goals
Wondering what the most common goals for the new year are? Here’s a list, in no particular order, that I compiled after combing through multiple online sources.
Any of these look familiar?
- Eat Healthier / Improve my Diet
- Exercise More / Get in Shape
- Save More Money / Set a Budget
- Learn New Skill / Start New Hobby
- Lose Weight
- Reduce Stress
- Get More Sleep
- Travel More
- Quit Smoking
- Drink Less Alcohol
Yuck! I don’t know about you, but those are oh so mundane, generic, and obvious! They’re even cheesy to read (more Swiss cheesy to type). So, how do we do better? Because I know we can.
One Meaningful Goal that Adds to Your Life Story
The challenge is to set one BIG goal that defines you, a goal that reflects your character, interests, and desires. Aim for something that moves you ahead in life.
Something to become an integral part of your story. A story that you tell about yourself, and one others tell about you! Seize this opportunity to put some real meat on that narrative.
You might be thinking, “this sounds difficult.”
If you are, you’re right. It is a challenge! Regurgitating those generic resolutions from years past is much easier. Deciding on just one goal will take time, careful thought and needs to be something that inspires passion. Something you will fight to achieve!
⌈Satisfaction lies in the effort, not the attainment. Full effort is full victory⌋
-Mahatma Gandhi
More than Just a “GOAL”
A goal is an AMBITION.
A goal is a TARGET.
A goal is an INTENTION.
A goal is an ASPIRATION.
A goal is a PURPOSE.
A goal is a CAUSE.
Finding your BIG Goal
Pretend for a moment your future self is looking backward, reflecting on this year. Now, answer these questions. Allow your answers to guide you toward your big goal for the year.
I am ____________
I did ____________
I achieved ________
I accomplished _____
I completed _______
I discovered _______
I created _________
I became _________
I learned _________
I am proud of ______
6 Goal Categories
Another way to flush out a goal for the year is to take a categorical approach. Here I’ve come up with six goal categories to stir your mind. Within each, an endless number of goals can be generated. Find a category that resonates with you and let it steer your choice.
1.) Physical Challenges and Achievements
This one’s my favorite. Picking a goal in this category provides for limitless growth and a renewed sense of self-confidence. Nothing makes you feel like anything is possible quite like finishing a grueling physical challenge.
- Pick a mountain you want to climb
- Select a marathon you want to finish
- Enroll in a fitness competition
- Complete an open water swimming challenge
- etc…
2.) Experiences
This category is a broad one, but I’ve geared this mostly to NEW experiences tied to travel and time outside your comfort zone.
- Travel to a specific destination that is outside your typical vacation
- Volunteer abroad
- Take an overseas retreat
- Go on a backpacking trip
- Move to a new place (city, state country)
- etc…
3) Professional Achievements and Financial Performance
Making improvements to our professional life or our financial situation is a persistent desire. A goal in this category will pay dividends!
- Make a career change
- Start a business
- Find a new job
- File for a patent
- Obtain a professional license or certification
- Write a book
- etc…
4) Personal Development and Social Progression
While at first glance, you’d assume the terms personal and social to be at odds with each other. However, this category has to do with furthering yourself in the social realm. Think of climbing society’s ladder.
- Propose to the one you love, maybe even get married
- Start a family
- Purchase a house
- Broaden or break into a new social circle
- Join a professional organization
- Start or participate in a charitable organization
- etc…
5) Cognitive Growth
Our thirst for education and learning should never be satisfied. Education has no expiration date. Never accept the adage, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
- Enroll in a class or school
- Graduate and get that certificate or diploma
- Learn a new language
- Learn a new skill
- etc…
6) Health: Mental – Spiritual – Physical
There is so much more to health than just eating right and working out. Sure, the physical aspect is important and the most recognizable one. But spiritual and mental health are just as crucial.
- Break an addiction (phone, vaping, weed, alcohol, porn, drugs, sugar, smoking…)
- Become vegetarian or vegan
- Adopt a daily meditation practice and stick to it (work on sitting for X amount of time)
- Set a goal to lose X number of pounds
- Take a course on Vipassana or book a retreat
- Set a Morning Pages routine
- etc…
The Big Goal
By setting just one significant and meaningful goal you’re creating a benchmark. You’re setting a flag far off on the horizon, giving yourself something to work towards. In this work, dedication and expression of full effort is where you’ll find absolute victory. Sure it will be rewarding when you eventually attain that goal, but when you look back on what it took to get you there, it’s the journey that really tells the story.
Be Humble and Dream Big!
