Achieving goals requires proper steps

Usually in January there is a stigma about new years resolutions and having to achieve a certain goal just because it’s a new year. 

As time passed, I realized how much of a ridiculous idea this is, considering only around 19% of people who set a goal actually achieve it. Most goals are things like losing weight, going to the gym, quitting alcohol or smoking, and many others.

There are big goals with no stepping stones in sight. Most people are setting themselves up for failure by not accounting for the steps to get there. This can lead to feeling guilty or ashamed for not following through. 

Instead, I believe people should look at their goal with a magnifying glass to find the root of these goals. 

Think about something you want to achieve this year. It can be anything, even if it’s something I’ve already listed. Write it at the top of a blank page. That is your ultimate goal, but there’s lots of blank space below. That’s how you get to the seed of it. 

Maybe you wrote down a goal to exercise more. In a study by YouGov, 50% of people’s goals in 2020 is exercise. Think about why you want to achieve that goal. Let’s say you’re trying to lose weight, is it because you just want to slim down? Do you have spring break plans coming up and want to look good? Do you have a poor mental health state and it’s affecting the way you see yourself? These are just a couple of things either myself or someone I know have contemplated when losing weight. 

But, if you notice at the root of your issue is something not entirely related to your goal, then maybe your goal needs to shift. If you compare yourself to Instagram influencers and want to lose weight to look like them, maybe focus your time building your mental health. There is nothing wrong with that.

Another popular goal is trying to stop smoking. This habit is hard to quit, but think about why you smoke. Is it to relieve stress or to take your mind off something else? Find the seed, then find a habit that is better for you. If you do it as a way to relieve stress, it could very well replace your smoking habit. Find something else, there are so many other ways to relieve stress that cost less and don’t hurt your body. 

Hopefully all of this points you in the direction of taking a look at the seed to your resolution. More often than not there is a root to the goal that is less than desirable to confront, but that seed is what needs to be addressed. This root to your “goal” might change your approach and that’s OK. This allows you to build instead of drowning in a pool of guilt.