I love this quote! That really is what sets us apart and allows us to contribute to society. When we make the sacrifices to work hard today, we are in a better position to excel tomorrow.
Keeping New Year’s Resolutions is difficult for everyone. According to research by the University of Scranton, only 8% of people actually achieve their New Year’s resolutions.
So what sets those apart from succeeding and giving up, and how can we all do better at actually achieving our goals?
I have 4 suggestions that may help.
First, make sure that the goal you are setting actually matters to you.
Often times, we set goals that we really don’t care enough about. Sure, it may be nice to lose a few pounds, but we are really only trying because the doctor told us we should, when in reality it doesn’t deeply matter to us?
Really ask yourself, what is it that you want this next year? What is it that YOU want? Not what your doctor, spouse, children, or parents want for you, but what you want for you.
Second, identify the large main goal.
Most of the time, our goals are pretty large. We want to lose 20 lbs, finish school, get out of debt, put enough money in savings so we can retire, quit smoking, drinking, viewing pornography, etc, build better relationships with friends and family, or get organized. All of those things are pretty significant and potentially overwhelming.
Third, Take Small Bites
When I was a kid, I remember reading a Shel Silverstein poem about a girl who was determined to eat a whale.
Melinda Mae
Have you heard of tiny Melinda Mae,
Who ate a monstrous whale?
She thought she could,
She said she would,
So she started in right at the tail.
And everyone said, “You’re much too small,”
But that didn’t bother Melinda at all,
She took little bites and she shewed very slow,
Just like a little girl should…
…and eighty-nine years later she ate that whale
Because she said she would!!!
As silly as it sounds (and it does sound silly), that little Melinda Mae got me through graduate school (although I had remembered her eating an elephant and not a whale). Faced with an already heaping plate, I began acquiring my required clinical hours for graduation. In the beginning, it felt so daunting. But I kept a log of those hours and each day, though the progress felt slow for my “get it done” personality, I saw those numbers begin to add up.
When I finally accumulated the necessary hours, I remember shaking my head and thinking, “That is how you eat an elephant. One hour, one bite at a time.”
Accomplishing great things takes time – for everyone. The expert was once the beginner. It helps to remember that it really is the small, consistent things that bring about significant results.
Fourth, Enlist the Help of Others
We were not meant to go this life alone. When we ask for and accept the support of others, we are both stronger and more accountable. Family, friends, addictions groups, therapists, or other professionals can help us work through the obstacles, cheer us on, help us acknowledge our progress, and encourage us when we feel like giving up.
No one ever achieved greatness without hard work. It takes determination, time, consistency, and support.
What have you found is especially helpful for you in sticking with and achieving your goals?
