09/01/2021
RESOLUTIONS VS GOALS
Welcome to 2021!
Did you make any new year's resolutions?
How many of them have you already broken?
Come January 1st many of us make a promise to ourselves that we intend to change and improve some aspect of our life. More often than not the changes we intend to make are extreme, creating an intimidating gap between where we are, and where we want to be. We go in with high expectations and an "all-or-nothing" approach, then feel discouraged when it falls flat within a few weeks, and our good intentions get left behind.
The problem with resolutions is that they are just a statement of intention - a firm decision to do, or not to do something - but with no real plan on how to get to where we want to be. Resolutions are rigid - we either achieve them or you don't, there is no inbetween.
Goals, on the other hand, are the object of a persons ambition or effort, an aim or desired result; they are a statement of commitment. Goals involve not only setting intentions, but also planning, preparing, and taking realistic action. Unlike resolutions, they are malleable and can change with our circumstances and priorities.
Now I am not saying making resolutions is a bad thing. Resolutions are useful in providing a long-term picture of where we want to be. However, goals are the specific steps we need to take to get there. Without goals, resolutions often go unmet.
As cliche as it sounds, it really is about the journey, not the destination. If you only set a resolution, everyday will be a battle to keep that resolution. If you set a goal, everyday will be a journey towards that goal.