Don’t Set Resolutions Until You Do This!
![Don’t Set Resolutions Until You Do This! Don’t Set Resolutions Until You Do This!](https://fearlessprojectmanagement.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Scenery_Lighthouses_Sea_441419-250x156.jpg)
The beginning of a new year is a wonderful time to commit to making changes in your life. But where do you start? Most people set resolutions on New Year’s Day, then, on Blue Monday, depression reigns because they realize that they have already missed the mark. If you come up short when it comes to achieving your dreams, your values might be at odds with your goals.
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What are Your Priorities?
Inspired by Tip #21 in “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff at Work” ”, do this before you set your goals for the coming year.
- Today, make a list of your top priorities. Then, put them in order starting with the most important, first. Don’t worry about defining them or setting goals around them. Just make the list and then put it aside for one week.
- Go through your week without making any changes. Just do what you had planned, without thinking about your list of priorities..
- After the week is over, take out your list. Reflect on how closely your actions align with your priorities. These are the holidays and your week is probably not typical, so think back over the past month.
![Priorities List Tie each of your priorities to your values. Put them in order with the most important first. Your values determine your priorities. Your values guide your thinking, decisions, and actions. Ask yourself if your behavior is aligned with your priorities. If there’s a mismatch, what set of values would actually represent your behavior? How closely do your actions align to those things that are most important to you? Most of us have an idealized impression of our intentions, values, and qualities.](https://fearlessprojectmanagement.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Depositphotos_46516863_s-2019.jpg)
- Tie each of your priorities to your values. Put them in order with the most important first. Your values determine your priorities. Your values guide your thinking, decisions, and actions.
- Ask yourself if your behavior is aligned with your priorities. If there’s a mismatch, what set of values would actually represent your behavior?
- How closely do your actions align to those things that are most important to you? Most of us have an idealized impression of our intentions, values, and qualities.
Your priorities represent your hopes, your dreams, and your values. If you’re struggling to accomplish as much as you want, it is likely that a discrepancy exists between your goals and your values. If your goals are antithetical to your values, success is all but impossible.
Live your Values to Reach your Goals
When you are ready to set your trajectory for 2021 and beyond, set aside some time to do some soul-searching. We don’t like to behave in ways that are counter to our values. If a mismatch exists, something has to give. Use these techniques to set goals that match your priorities and support your values:
- What are you trying to accomplish? What are your goals in life? Do you want to run your own company? Do you want to be wealthy? Get six-pack abs? Write a screenplay? Save the whales? Build a real estate empire? The first step to any great success is to get clear on your what you are trying to achieve.
- How do your current values impact your goals? If your values and goals don’t match, the odds of success are dismal without something changing. For example,
![checklist-2589418_1280 If you believe that wealthy people are fundamentally bad, you’ll never accumulate a significant amount of wealth. If comfort is a high priority for you, those six-pack abs will never develop. Do you value having a lot of leisure time? A goal that requires a lot of work isn’t going to happen. Look at your goals and look at your values. Do your goals support those values? Do your values support your goals?](https://fearlessprojectmanagement.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/checklist-2589418_1280.jpg)
- If you believe that wealthy people are fundamentally bad, you’ll never accumulate a significant amount of wealth.
- If comfort is a high priority for you, those six-pack abs will never develop.
- Do you value having a lot of leisure time? A goal that requires a lot of work isn’t going to happen.
Look at your goals and look at your values. Do your goals support those values? Do your values support your goals?
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- What would be the perfect set of values to support your goals? Imagine you could build a person from scratch that would be perfect for accomplishing your goals. What values and qualities would they possess? How would you be different if you had these values?
- Think about the people you know that have accomplished what you want to accomplish. How would you describe them?
- How close can you come to matching those values? How well can you rearrange your values to match that ideal set of values? The closer you’re able to come, the greater the odds of your success.
- Reinforce the values that matter. Imagine that your goal is to save $20,000 for a down payment on a home. Let’s suppose that you’ve determined that you need to be someone that values saving money over spending. How can you build this value in yourself and make it a part of you?
- Prove to yourself that you’re that type of person: For example, pick up pennies you find on the ground and save them. Cut coupons. Find new ways of dealing with stress other than shopping. Save part of your income as soon as your paycheck hits your bank account.
- When you keep proving to yourself over and over again that you possess a value, those actions will build and reinforce that value.
- What would be the perfect set of values to support your goals? Imagine you could build a person from scratch that would be perfect for accomplishing your goals. What values and qualities would they possess? How would you be different if you had these values?
Are your goals and values a good match? It’s important that they are. When a mismatch exists, it’s important to either alter your values or your goals. There’s only so much resistance a person can overcome. Success is much easier when your values and your intentions are highly compatible.
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Ignite your Passion with these Strategies:
What changes would you like to make? As you consider making changes, include these strategies if they take you closer to where you want to be by New Year’s Eve on 2021. You can ignite your passion and experience a more vibrant existence by making personal changes that take you in the direction of your goals.
- Pay special attention to your health. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we need to take responsibility for our own health. Support your immune system by eating well, exercising vigorously, and getting proper sleep. Take care of your teeth, hair, and skin. You will feel great and when you start feeling more beautiful, it will boost your self-esteem.
- Let yourself get excited about the changes you’re making regarding your body and overall health.
- Read more. Although you may prefer other activities, reading expands your mind and your perspective. Focus on reading about topics you enjoy or want to learn more about.
- If you love to travel, read travel guides and stories set in the places you’d like to visit.
![heat-3197329_1280 If you adore your dog, read about the breed, dog training techniques, and how to care for your pooch’s health. If you want to move up in your organization, read about great leaders and the strategies they use to communicate and build strong relationships. Expanding your intellectual horizons will help you become a more interesting person who has plenty of things to converse about with others. You will be perceived as more valuable to your company.](https://fearlessprojectmanagement.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/heat-3197329_1280.jpg)
- If you adore your dog, read about the breed, dog training techniques, and how to care for your pooch’s health.
- If you want to move up in your organization, read about great leaders and the strategies they use to communicate and build strong relationships.
Expanding your intellectual horizons will help you become a more interesting person who has plenty of things to converse about with others. You will be perceived as more valuable to your company.
- Set priorities and keep them straight. For example, if your priorities are family, work, and self, be sure to consider each one when you’re making decisions. The key is to be aware of your priorities.
- When the new year starts, behave in ways that demonstrate your priorities. Maintain your focus on what’s important to you throughout the year. Use a planner that will allow you to see your values and review your priorities at the beginning of each week.
- When your actions align with your priorities, you’ll be more passionate about what you’re doing at home, in the workplace, and on your own.
- This year, plan to do something you haven’t done before. Nothing gets the juices flowing like engaging in a novel activity. Will it be planting a vegetable garden so your family has fresh, organic, non-GMO vegies to eat, can, and share? How about starting a video-blog about your journey as you build those six-pack abs?
- Maybe your new experience will be something you’ve wanted to do for years or perhaps it’s something you’ve just decided to explore.
- Put your best foot forward at work. If you’ve reached the point where you’re bored with work, it’s up to you to spice it up. Strive to excel at your job this year. Volunteer for that new project, take on an undesirable task, or simply expand your efforts each day.
- Skip the gossip sessions at the water cooler. Offer extra help to your supervisor when she looks like she could use it.
- Document your efforts and when the chance for a promotion arises, step up. Be confident and let the boss know why you’re the best person for the job.
Do everything you can to live your values and you will make steady progress towards your best life. You’ll soon discover that you’re feeling more vibrant, interested, and passionate in all aspects of your life.