Your First Goal for 2015, Read This Article!

See how easy that is? You just set a goal, and you’re already well on your way to completing it!  Really! Every journey in life starts with a single step.  You may well think "It’s the first day of 2015, and there’s no time for this...", however welcome to our “Make It Happen” series which will support you being one step ahead in preparing for next year.  

How do you make all those steps you’re already taking every day work together and help paint the picture of the great new future you in 2015? 

Last year already,our nation and many around the world grieve the shocking loss of AustralianCricketer, Phillip Hughes from a freakish accident.  In the midst of this painful sadness, how can those of us who didn’t personally know him pay tribute?  Aside from putting your bats out, we can model his tenacity by using our talents to their optimum use and be grateful for our loved ones who support us in making it happen.  Take steps today to make dreams happen, summon great velocity for motivating yourself and encourage others to do the same.  

How?….

You’ll Read this Next Paragraph out of Habit What do you know!

You’ve already mastered the first step of understanding how you can make your goals work! You can break down habits into three parts: (1) the cue, (2) the action and (3) the reward. This cycle plays a critical role in how we spend our time and invest our energy.

Charles Duhigg’s enlightening book “The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business” offers an insightful look at the reasons behind behavior patterns.  (I’m adding this to my Christmas reading list!) Our brains would be unable to effectively operate if they had to analyse every decision we made, every minute of every day. This is what we’ve come to recognize as the power of our unconscious brain activity in our daily routine.

For example, for those who drove to work or wherever today, looking back on your way today, you’ll remember the moments you may have been stuck in traffic, communicating with hand gestures in an effort to make a memorable connection with your fellow human beings in the car that cut you off. However, you won’t remember the five left turns, thirty seconds at the red light and the fact that your fuel tank’s indicator was sitting at two-fifths full after reaching your parking spot.  These routine habits are taken care of by your unconscious. Wouldn’t it be great if we could use that power to make positive differences in your life? Great news:  Your unconscious habits are re-programmable!  

Just  K.I.S.S. Your Problems Away - Keep it Simple & Straightforward:

No, we’re not talking about a rebound relationship, or buying a new sports car to take your mind off what you can’t do. Whilst fun, and not necessarily a bad thing, we’re looking for a more permanent solution that will set up a pattern of success for your future. Step back from the daily doldrums of life and make a list of things you love about your life, and things you’d like to make even better. Now, you’ve got a simple starting point.

Pick the easiest opportunity for improvement and decide on one thing that you can use to improve this area of your life. For example, if you want to improve your chances of waking up without a hangover, maybe relegate your bar-hopping adventures to a certain night each weekend or with a slightly earlier finish than last year?  Make it a new tradition to reward yourself for your hard work during your working week or work swing, by visiting your favourite restaurant or bar on a special night to celebrate a milestone.   Or, if you want to improve your financial picture, look at your discretionary purchases and commit to spend less in one area each week. For example, maybe you commit to taking a packed lunch to work starting just once. These simple, attainable goals allow us to begin habits that will really affect change in our lives.  Baby steps first!

Having trouble finding a treadmill? 

You’ve managed a few healthy lunches; it’s getting hotter and it’s time to work off some of that festive time weight you’ve already inhaled.  Contrary to popular belief, girls and guys really do prefer the six-pack to the whole keg.  But, here’s the problem:   It will soon be the 2nd of January and there’s a line up for the treadmill at your gym.  Most of the people in front of you look like they haven’t exercised in ages. (Do people really go to the gym on 1 January?)  It’s packed out at your favourite exercise spot and you guessed it - hundreds of New Year’s resolutions are being put into action. Is it best to follow the herd, or do you find your own path by starting early December?

Look before You Leap! 

Consider past information in your future decisions. After all, the definition of insanity is failing and trying the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.  Some research suggest that a measly  percentage of New Year’s resolutions survive the first few weeks of the New Year.  

Find your own path in your journey of establishing new habits that positively impact your life. Keep them simple and achievable. Track your success and reward yourself, focussing on successes, no matter how small.

Exert your energy into putting new habits into place, direct your thoughts toward the positives that will result in the highest chance of success. Even if you forget to run at the beginning of the week, focus on the fact you remembered towards the end of the week and enjoyed a heightened level of energy as a result.   The amount of time to break habits varies, but we do know you need to stick with it for at least THREE weeks, so get to it!  Make it Happen and enjoy your achievements now!

Your job is to now start tracking your WINS and look forward to our #MakeItHappen topics to propel you to success:  Will Power, Self Esteem and Time Management.  In the meantime, we'll remind you with succinct tips on Social Media.
 
Joanne Wilson is a professional and caring Psychotherapist based on the Sunshine Coast who provides prompt expertise. Joanne specialises in Relationships and their associated challenges.  Clients around Australia often seek assistance via Skype, Phone or Iphone Facetime.  Contact details are: 0499 991 884 or jo@theconfidantecounselling.com