Carrie Baker – The Growth Collective

We are fast approaching Christmas, and I know someone who has put up their tree already. (I’m sure that my husband would put ours up today if I let him!) After Christmas, what is it that we will all be thinking about?

The New Year.

There is definitely something magical about a new year beginning, which makes us feel that almost anything is possible. In the past I’ve been swept up in the excitement of the new season, I loved hearing everyone talk about their resolutions, their plans, hopes and dreams for this next year of their existence.

I know there are so many people who love to welcome the new year with fresh goals and dreams, and they thrive and flourish in it. But I know I’m not alone in having tried and failed many times, to stick to those resolutions and was left feeling defeated. For me, those feelings of defeat would put me off setting any new goals, sometimes for months to come.

In the last two years I decided to seriously chase after goals instead of resolutions. Go on, ask me what happened…

I actually succeeded in reaching the goals I set for myself! Some were to learn how to do certain things, others were to write more consistently and show up on social media more. Some goals took longer or even looked a little different than planned, but I did what I set out to do. I made big steps toward my dream, and that felt amazing.

I can safely say that I have never stuck to any resolutions I’ve made. For all the years I tried and failed, I told myself I was terrible at sticking to anything. Does this sound familiar?

The problem was with the method and not the thing itself.

Let’s talk about that for a minute.

A resolution is a big picture intention you set for yourself. They are usually grand goals with a desire for big results. For example, changing a behaviour, getting fit, saving money, eating better or a making big change in your career.

Goals on the other hand, are smaller and more specific targets. Each goal you set out to achieve, paves the way to that resolution and creates the map to where you want your life to go. (If you want to read a little more about that, you can read a previous blog post here)

Essentially, they are both about reaching a desired end point. One has to begin on an especially magical day at the beginning of the new year, the other you can start right now with no unnecessary preamble.

Why do we do it?

You are created to chase after goals and dreams, because it gives your life purpose. Working toward something, keeps you feeling motivated and hungry for more. Your soul needs the challenge of the chase, and the satisfaction of attaining it. But then we need a bigger goal or a new dream to go after once we have reached it.

Did you know that you are created with a specific dream, that is designed just for you? Maybe you are pursing that dream already, maybe you’re not yet, but the dream in your heart is a gift to you, and the world around you.

If you have a faith, you will know that we are all lovingly created by God, who gives us these dreams in our heart, to give us joy in reaching for them, but also to serve a purpose in us. Those dreams make us grow, become better versions of ourselves, and they give our life meaning,

When we are living those dreams, they serve a need in the world around us, whether it’s our home, workplace or our community.

Start now.

You can begin immediately, and sort the details out in the coming days. When we put things off, waiting for the right time or the motivation, often we can’t find the right time, and the motivation dies a very swift death. By starting right now, you move towards that goal straight away.

You will feel the surge of excitement of actually beginning. Every step you take will feel like a win, you will gather momentum, and those endorphins will work their chemical magic, keeping you coming back for more.

The great thing about your goals is that you are in charge. You call the shots.

Write it down.

Now is the time to work out the details. So, let’s sort them out, by asking yourself some questions. Grab something to write and capture these thoughts and get them all down. (Did you know that writing things by hand helps you to remember information better?)

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• What is your goal or dream?

• Why is this important to you?

• What will you achieve by reaching this dream or goal?

• What positive impact will this have on your life?

When you write it down ‘old school style’, it helps you to outwardly process the ideas and thoughts you’re working on, and you may be surprised by what flows onto the page.

Also by having these plans written down, you can come back to them if you need to recenter yourself, and remember where it is you are aiming for.

Start small.

By starting small you begin to grow those muscles you are yet to build, and set yourself up for success. If I were to compare a goal with a resolution again, (sorry to all those who love New Years Resolutions) goals can be made as small as they need to be as you begin it, they grow as you grow and achieve it. Whereas, resolutions are like grand promises to ourselves which can begin to feel unattainable pretty quickly.

What does this look like in practice? If your goal is to be more productive, one small step toward that would be to set a timer for an hour to achieve a task, and knock it over.

Get fit? You can do one thing today that gets your body moving, you will feel great about doing it, and want to decide on another form of exercise tomorrow.

Become a writer? Start with one paragraph, then one page, then just keep going. Be more creative? Gather ideas, and make some time in your life to start. Clear out the clutter? Start with one drawer, or corner of the kitchen bench and clear away the stuff by sorting it and getting rid of what you don’t need, and so on.

When you start small, you can set bigger goals for bigger targets. But if you set a huge goal, you will be more likely to give up on it.

By achieving those small goals, the success you feel drives you forward step by step, toward the big picture goal or dream.

Expect to fail.

“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”

-Henry Ford

Let’s just accept that failure will happen, so you’re not too shocked and disappointed when it comes. Our failures are opportunities to learn and grow. Learn to see them as ‘little teachers’, that show us a certain method didn’t work, but also giving us time to think about a better way we could tackle that thing.

Failure also doesn’t mean that you’re not making progress toward your dream or goal. It may mean that today wasn’t your day, and tomorrow you aim to begin again. Maybe you just need to take a little break. Or maybe you need to pick up the next goal if this one doesn’t work out.

Give yourself permission to fail, because it is just a part of the journey, to where you want to go. (You can read a little more about this in a previous blog post here)

It’s not a straight road.

Going from the starting line, to the happy conclusion of finally reaching your goal or dream, is never a straight line. Think of your journey like a road; Instead of a straight, wide main road, it will be far more like a narrow winding country lane with far too many tractors and big cars on it.

There will be points where you can’t see round the next bend but you keep going anyway, there will be big obstacles that slows you down or even stop you for a time. But as long as you carry on, no matter how slowly, you are still taking steps forward. Say it with me; “Any progress, no matter how small, is still progress”.

Courage, dear heart.

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they are too small”

Richard Branson

Your goals or dreams will take courage. Starting small is a great way to begin, but don’t keep them small. As you achieve each step forward, those ‘goal setting muscles’ will get bigger and stronger.

I know when I have landed on the thing I need to chase after, because it excites and terrifies me in equal measure. All of my goals are taking me closer to my dream.

What is the ‘scary’ version of your goal or dream? Go after that one… it’s ok that it feels a little too big. Goals aren’t meant to feel cosy and comfortable, otherwise you would never change, grow or be anything other than what you are right now.

Change is uncomfortable, and reaching for those goals takes you well out of that comfort zone you like so much.

Designate a friend or family member to encourage you or give you a pep talk when you need it, because there will come a day when you do. To ‘encourage’ means to give courage, and we could all do with more of that!

The best of both.

If you are still hungering after that ‘New Year, New You’ feeling, then why not have the best of both options? You can begin your goals or journey to your dream now, get that ball rolling so that when the New Year arrives, you’re already used to this whole ‘goal thing’. You could think about setting some fresh goals to ring in the New Year, and already knowing how to achieve goals, you’ll be far more likely to succeed.

To wrap up:

• Start now. Why put off till tomorrow (or the New Year) what you can start today?

• Write it down. Knowing where you are going will help you stay the course.

• Start small. Small wins are easier to achieve, and motivate you to keep going.

• Expect to fail. Failures teach us, and are just a normal part of the journey.

• It’s not a straight road. The journey is more like a squiggle than a straight line, but you will get there having learned much along the way.

• Courage, dear heart. If it doesn’t scare you, it’s not big enough.

• The best of both. Start your New Years Resolution goals now.

This right there is my biggest hope for you; that you will become all that you are created to be, to reach your amazing potential and live out that beautiful dream. I believe in you friend.

There is a bigger life for you, waiting just outside your comfort zone…. Go get it.

If you felt encouraged and inspired by this post, can you do me a favour and please share it? And while you’re at, give this post a like and drop me a comment, it would love to hear what spoke to you.

I am here, to champion your personal growth, encourage your goals, and cheer you on as your reach for your dreams. You can do this.

You can find all the places I hang out here.

Sending you love, friend,

Carrie xxx

Photo Credit :: Pixaby / WordSwag