New Year's Goals and Resolutions

Many people make resolutions, or new goals, for the new year. In the beginning, we all are good at keeping our resolutions or goals. The gyms are packed with people fulfilling their goals to be healthier and workout. People like me are writing diligently or cleaning their homes and getting organized. Then, somewhere between the first week and February, we fall back into our old habits. A few years ago, I felt challenged and kept two resolutions or goals and have not stopped ever since. Looking back, I realize a few differences that I created that became habits.

So, my goals or resolutions came because a pastor said, “No one ever keeps their resolutions.” Don’t tell me that. I revert back to my “I’ll show you” attitude and I do it. So, that year I committed to writing every single day. I also decided that I needed to have a daily devotional every single day. That was five years ago. The habit continues to exist. I look back at what I did and I realize that I set up some rules.

First, if I did miss a day, I would continue the next day and not beat myself up for it. I haven’t been as successful with my gym goals. I try to commit to going to the gym at least three times a week. I don’t always make it three times a week, so I start over the next week. I don’t beat myself up over it, which I think is key to accomplishing any goal.

Next, I create small increments to my goals. The first year I wrote every day. It has always been writing that was explicit for my goals in writing like my book or screenplays. It was not writing for lists or even journaling. The small increments were connected to my schedule. The weekends always get more writing time than the weekdays. It has become such a habit that I don’t know how to go a day without writing. Writer’s block has become obsolete.

Small increments can be sub goals to get your bigger goals. I know experts say that’s how you reach your goals, but it’s true. Small increments to larger goals are ones that help you remember why you are doing what you are doing. They are not always easier to achieve, but they are just one element of what needs to be done for your goal to be attained. It’s why many people quit with their goals after one month. We may want to lose weight and we set one big goal, but without those smaller increment goals, we struggle to maintain our big goal.

Accountability. I told others what I was doing. It is not only for support of keeping my goal, but to remind myself. I would tell people in the middle of the year, I still am keeping my crazy goal to write every single day this year. When people would ask what do I write, they would then ask when do I write. I would tell them that I write every day because I had learned from the expert writers like Stephen King that the best writers write every single day. By the middle of the year, I realized that a habit was developing.

Being consistent. I have become consistent when I write. Whether it is first thing in the morning or right when I get home, it is easier for me to reach my goals when I have a consistent time of doing what I have set to do.

Having goals makes you realize if it is really your passion or just a wild dream. Early on in that first year of writing every day, I recognized how much I loved to write and how much I had to say. It wasn’t a goal that was just for a year. It has become a habit to do until I no longer have the passion or the capability to write.

In Philippians 3:14, Paul states, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ. Jesus.” (NIV) The prize is to be in the presence of Jesus. To remain in his presence, the goal of speaking and listening to Him daily has guided me to be in His presence even in the trials of life.

The best thing I discovered with my goals was that each day was new. Even if you have already broken your goals or resolutions, you can start over every single day. Habits are created. Bad habits are difficult to break but they are broken when we create new habits. Each day is present for you to create a new habit or part of one and to begin to break a bad habit. It’s a new year. Every day is a new day. We can all start with a new and healthy habit. Once we do, we make a small difference in the world that can create a world that is better for us all.