Written by: Keisha Leah Rock, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
A Resolution or Ten
What were your resolutions for 2021? It’s an age-old tradition, for the New Year to write our resolutions. You may not have physically recorded them but verbalised them or made a mental note about what you want to accomplish in the year ahead. I’ve for many years jumped on the bandwagon and created some resolutions, mostly mentally, that I wanted to accomplish.
We go from promising to exercise and eating healthy, to reading more articles and books. Moreover, we would resolve to be better financial stewards saving more money and becoming more financially savvy with maybe a consideration to invest. The list of resolutions can be extremely long and aimed at covering a plethora of categories.
Falling Off the Wagon
“Good resolutions are a pleasant crop to sow. The seed springs up so readily, and the blossoms open so soon with such a brave show, especially at first. But when the time of flowers has passed, what as to the fruit? Lucas Malet
Once we get to the end of the first quarter, we usually are so far removed from the resolution we cannot even remember what we were “promising” to do. The funny thing is we’ve got to ask ourselves: Were we ever really committed or was it more of a trend, a part of the New Year’s craze? How long did it take you before you threw in the shovel and left the garden? I know I’ve had a good laugh at myself as I was thinking of doing some things that the odds of success were so stacked against me that I had no idea why I even tried. I won’t bore you with my stories but needless to say, for many of us, we didn’t even allow the flowers (resolutions) to enjoy the showers of the spring rains.
Go Get Those Goals!
I remember my first year creating a vision board. That year I believe my focus was a lot more on the idea of the creativity associated with the board and not as much focus was dedicated to consistency, persistence and achievement of my goals. The last few years, however, as I’ve embarked on my personal growth and development journey, I have been intentional about crushing my goals.
Tony Robbins reminds us that “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”
This has caused me to ask myself some thought-provoking questions.
The key to achieving success will be to focus on five (5) main areas as we ponder the goals we want to set, and to prioritise those things we want to become visible:
1. What are those things I love to do?
Consider the things that bring you immense joy whenever you think about them and/or do them.
2. What am I extremely good at?
Is there a skill or talent you have that can be performed seamlessly and with a high level of skill and expertise?
3. What are my core values?
This question is really about who you are and what you represent. Can you identify the belief system that will guide, motivate and inspire you to act?
4. What are my priorities?
Your goals should be centred around those things that take precedence in your life. These can range from: personal growth, professional development, family, relationships, finances, spiritual growth or mental health and wellness.
5. How can I serve others?
Most successful persons are those individuals who have built a life of giving to and serving others. This will add value to your life and the individuals’ lives you will have the opportunity to impact.
Be Intentional and Strategic
After you’ve identified your goals and written them down the job is on the way to completion. The next step, one could argue, is the most important one on the road to success. It’s time to consider the how. How exactly will you achieve those goals? What’s the plan? Intentionality and daily consistency will pave the way to the accomplishment of your target (s).
In 1981, George Doran, Arthur Miller and James Cunningham developed the SMART goal setting model, and I would encourage us all to apply it as we commence or continue on our journey to success.
Specify the goals in such a way that our focus is clear and concise. For example: “I want to lose fifteen (15) pounds.”
Determine how we will measure the achievement of the goal. “I’m going to weigh at the beginning and end of every week when I go to the gym on Mondays and Fridays and take my measurements.” Be strategic! Establish a plan.
The goal needs to be attainable which means to say: “I will lose thirty (30) pounds in six (6) weeks.” would really be an insurmountable goal especially if we have struggled with weight loss in the past. You would do better to say: “at the end of six (6) weeks I’d like to lose at least five (5) pounds.”.
From the time we are thinking about recording our goals relevance is crucial. If we don’t value our health and wellness then we are not going to be serious about achieving such a goal.
Finally, we’ve got to factor in the time. Note the amount of time for your workouts and the frequency. Also, decide how long you’re giving yourself to lose the target weight. Record a date at which time progress will be reviewed and the necessary adjustments made to strategies.
One of the best ways to track your progress is to have a journal. Daily and/or weekly planners are also useful. I’ve personally found that journaling is an excellent way to record my progress while creating discipline. The journal will provide evidence of what’s working and what’s not working. It is also a great tool for tracking emotions, motivations and performance, this will assist in making any necessary tweaks to your strategies.
Celebrate Your Wins
I absolutely love the Greek Proverb which says: “Success isn’t how far you got, but the distance you travelled from where you started.”
Do you practice celebrating your wins, big or small? Let’s not wait until we reach the destination to celebrate. Everyday that we stick to our plan and execute the established action steps, I suggest giving ourselves a pat on the back.
Confucius paints a beautiful picture of the construction of success when he penned this quote: “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
The fact of the matter is that just as the cathedral at Notre Dame took one hundred and eighty-two years (182) to be constructed, anything worth having can take time, sweat, hard work and even tears. With the dawn of every new day celebrate life and as the sunsets and when it’s time to rest your head at night, recognise what has been done to move a step closer to the goal.
It’s been clearly established that GOALS are the way to go as opposed to resolutions. If you’re ready to set your goals for this year as a thank you for taking the time to read this article here’s a FREE GIFT below for you. Click the link below to start incorporating our Daily Fillable Planner into your routine.
Remaining consistent and disciplined are two essential keys to our ability to achieve success. As we decide on our goals and strategies, accountability will also assist us on our journey. My mastermind, The “GROWTH” Series, is designed to help you not just to set goals but remain consistent and grow in all areas of your life. As you surround yourself with other like-minded individuals or in 1-1 sessions, you will be encouraged to stretch outside of your comfort zone and exceed even your own expectations. As a Mindset Coach I am extremely passionate about seeing you become the best version of yourself. I believe that now is the time to PURSUE your PURPOSE with PASSION!
Keisha Leah Rock, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Keisha Rock, is a Mindset Coach, Empowerment Speaker, Author and Educator. After experiencing some personal struggles, Keisha embarked on a journey of self-discovery and self-improvement where she implemented and revolutionised strategies to sustain personal growth and development. As the Founder and C.E.O of KaiRos Professional Services, Keisha provides services to individuals and businesses around the world, in the Caribbean, United States, South Africa and more. She is the author of Releasing the Past- Building Beauty from Brokenness, in this book Keisha shares her personal story and how she was able to navigate one of the most difficult seasons in her life when she battled depression. She is the Co-owner of the KaiRos TV Channel on the ACEIRT TV Network where she Co-host’s the Transformation Show. Keisha’s mission is to use every platform available to her, to add value to the lives of individuals and encourage them with her mantra “Don’t allow the past to hold the pen that writes your future.
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