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It's a New Day, a New Year

Posted by Dave on January 1, 2011

Every year at this time, millions of people make New Years Resolutions.  And every year, millions of people break those resolutions.

I don't usually make any New Year's Resolutions, but that has changed this year.  Kinda.

Resolutions

In my mind, resolutions are things that you decide you are or are not going to do.  And when you resolve to do them, it is an all-or-nothing, winner-take-all kind of thing.  Stuff like:

• I will stop smoking;
• I will eat 2,000 calories every day;
• I will exercise every weekday; or
• I will volunteer at the local shelter once a week

These types of things are pretty difficult to accomplish in and of themselves, let alone that people generally give themselves only a day to make all these changes.  There is really nothing magical about January 1st.  That's why most resolutions fall flat and people give up on them.

Goals

Goals, on the other hand, are not one-time things, but rather ideals that you work toward.  They are an organic process:

• I am an ex-smoker
• I will be mindful of the things that I eat
• I will find an exercise regimen that is healthy both in the short-term and long-term
• I will find ways to give back to my family, friends and community

The difference between a goal and a resolution is a matter of who I want to become, rather than who I think I should be.  A goal is a working-out of your values, not an internalization of other peoples values.

To that end, I am setting some goals for the next twelve months.  They are things that are doable, but outside my comfort zone.

My Goals for 2011

In no particular order:

• Live smoke-free;
• Be more social;
• Be able to bench-press 250lbs;
• Live debt free;
• Run my second marathon;
• Finish all the little projects around the house;

I plan on doing at least a quarterly update on how I am proceeding with these goals, both for myself and for you.  So I ask you, what are your goals for 2011?

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