It’s the new year, and as we happily say farewell to 2020, this is a time for new starts and new goals. This month, our Wellspring articles will address how to change our habits in order to succeed with our goals. Our habits, the repeated subconscious patterns of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, eventually determine both our character and our achievements.

So where do we begin? If you are one of those who sets goals, but struggles to achieve them, stick with this series and learn some tricks to creating new, healthy habits.

If you are one of those who has no goals, maybe it’s because you have let go of all efforts under the belief that who you are “naturally” is your lot in life or you are afraid that it’s hopeless to ever really change. Again, I invite you to follow this series. I also encourage a deep dive into finding the hope that comes from passionate living. Consider finding inspiration by reading Rick Warren’s, The Purpose Driven Life, or writing your own obituary, the way you hope it will be written for you at your funeral, and setting about to become that person.

The first step of success is to set a goal. If you want to live well, you must live intentionally. According to Brian Tracy, author of The Psychology of Achievement, the first common behavior of highly successful people is to be a “habitual goal setter”. Yes, goal-setting itself needs to be a habit! Steven Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, agrees with this first step, listing the first 2 habits of highly effective people as: being proactive and beginning with the end in mind.

So, what is your goal? Take your first step by thinking about the goal itself. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my goal?
• Why do I want to achieve this goal?
• What will change in my life if I achieve it?
• How will I feel if I achieve it?
• Can I imagine myself successful?
• How and with whom will I celebrate this success?
• What will it cost or take to succeed?
• Is there anything or anyone that I will lose if I succeed?
• Is it worth it anyway?

Sometimes, we assume we will be happy if we achieve our goals, but that may not always be true. Research shows for instance, that more money doesn’t necessarily correlate with more happiness (Dunn). To be really motivated to achieve our goals, we must first consider all of the costs and benefits. Meaningful goals are those that move us beyond immediate rewards and towards becoming who we want to be and what we want to do. For example, if your goal is to write a book, the “why” is important. You may want to get people to admire you, to advance your career, to make money, or to communicate something that influences others for good. Knowing both the why and the what will help you decide if this goal is worth the effort.

For Christians, the end goal can even be beyond this life. Longing to hear “well done” or to receive a crown may be ultimate desires which alter all of your earthly goals.

Regardless of what end you have in mind, find it and start your journey today. For as Zig Ziglar says, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”

This week’s post:

Listen as Tova Kreps, LCSW, talks about Living Well on Purpose in this new year!