The Balanced Life, Huntsville Alabama

As we end the year 2015 and look forward to a new year in 2016, I can’t help but reflect on this past year and think about what went well, goals I achieved, and what did not. We all know that many people set New Year’s resolutions only to have them fail and fizzle out by the end of January. I know I’ve done that a time or two. I read this morning that goals fail for two reasons: fear of failure and lack of motivation. If I want to earn a college degree, thinking about it isn’t going to get the degree, registering for the first class is. Or if I want to be healthier, sitting on the couch thinking about it and feeling guilty is not going to get me there, exercise and healthier eating is.

If fear of failure and lack of motivation are what stops us from reaching goals, how do we overcome these obstacles? Sometimes goals feel daunting and too big to accomplish or take too much effort. It may help to figure out why you’re experiencing these feelings and then take action in spite of fears and avoidances. If this is the case, start small. Begin with a big goal and break it up into smaller ones. Set a goal that’s a little different than before. Instead of saying “be happy”, say “create a gratitude jar and add a statement of gratitude daily over the next 30 days.” I know when I apply a goal that is measurable, it becomes doable and I am more likely to accomplish it.

I would like to recommend two books that impacted me in the year 2015 and are relevant to achieving goals. And best of all, they are interesting! The first is called, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and the other is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. In The Happiness Project the author goes through a year of setting a new goal each month of the year in pursuit of living life more fully and being happier. The goals are tangible and measurable and amazingly work. The Power of Habit does just that, explains all about human habit patterns, why they exist, and does so in an interesting story telling manner. It also gives ideas on how to overcome bad habits, such as overeating and gambling. The first step is to make a decision to do something different.

If I (we) can overcome our fears and find motivation, our chances of setting and achieving goals improve greatly. Following the steps below will help make your year 2016 a great one!
1. Make a decision to change a bad habit or reach a new goal.
2. Set a S.M.A.R.T. goal- specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-bound. While this method may be used by many employers, it applies to individuals, too.
3. Evaluate at regular intervals- If something is not working, rethink it and set a new goal. Have accountability- Find someone you trust with whom you can be accountability partners.
4. Make an emergency card- On a small index card, write three things you can do when tempted to go against your goal. For example, if you are tempted to overeat when your goal is to lose weight, your card might include a healthy snack idea, the phone number of your accountability partner, and a replacement activity instead of eating (meditation, deep breathing, etc.). This card is proven to be highly effective in those times we aren’t thinking clearly and would regret those actions later.
5. Celebrate- When a goal is achieved, celebrate it!
6. Keep going- When you reach a goal, sometimes the hard part is to maintain the goal (ahem, speaking from experience many times over). By using the steps above, your achieved goal will lead to new ones, which in turn, will help you maintain the goals you’ve already accomplished.

“Taking the first step helps bridge the gulf between our dreams and our accomplishments.”