It’s almost the end of March and in reviewing my post from January 12 Commitments for a New Year I realize that sticking with my New Year’s resolution is less about staying motivated, because let’s face it – that can be fleeting depending on the week, and really more about perspiration and sticking to a plan to make that goal a reality.
By breaking up my resolution into smaller monthly goals I have been able to stick with them in a way that I hadn’t been able to do previously. Could I be onto something? Now, let’s be honest I haven’t always been motivated as I was that first week but by reminding myself of my goals and using some of the strategies to stay motivated, I have managed to stay on track with these goals.
When I do experience a sets back, I try to keep in mind Don Shula’s 24-hour rule. Don Shula believed that you should celebrate success or wallow in defeat but only do it for 24 hours. Feel the emotions to their fullest but once your 24 hours have passed move on. Success is not forever and failure is hardly fatal. He was so right! Many of us get hung up in the failure that it keeps us from moving forward. Remember each day is a new opportunity to begin again.
How do you stick with your resolution or goal?
I find your commitment to be inspiring and, frankly, part of how I stick with my goals is to surround myself with people who are doing the same for themselves. I also try to celebrate my progress and in that way the momentum keeps be going. If I feel like I’m still moving forward, I keep going. The hard part is when you feel a lapse in progress or you hit a road block, but I just have to remind myself of how far I’ve come on that goal and how important it felt to me when I started the journey.