As we are 50 days into 2024, it's the perfect time to pause and reflect on our progress and the journey we've embarked upon. While setting goals for ourselves is an essential part of personal growth, it is equally important to approach them with empathy and compassion for ourselves. Often, in the fervour of the new year, we become so consumed by our newfound motivation, that we forget to be kind to ourselves when the excitement wears off.
Here are a few easy ways to keep your resolutions without self-blame -
Setting realistic goals - It is important to set achievable goals, keeping your mental and physical limitations in mind. Breaking down goals into smaller pragmatic goals is a great way to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Setting mindful goals - being mindful of the goals you are setting and the motivation behind them is a great way to keep yourself from disappointment. Aligning your goals to your values is an important part of setting long-term goals
Celebrating progress - we often focus on perfection rather than progress. Celebrating even small wins can increase your motivation and avoid discouragement.
Create a support system - we are stronger together! Finding people to motivate and support you with your resolutions is a crucial part of keeping yourself determined. It is a great idea to find a group of people with similar goals or resolutions.
Reflect and learn - setbacks are a part of the process, but it is crucial to understand they aren't failures. It is rather an opportunity to reflect and learn from your experiences to better yourself.
Enjoy the process - while it is natural to get caught up in trying to achieve the goal, it is vital to find joy in what you are doing to keep doing it for the long term.
Life is unpredictable, our situations and circumstances change ever so often leading us to be inconsistent with our goals. During these times, it is very important to be kind to ourselves with actions and words, just like how you would be to a friend. A little slump in the journey is not a failure, but rather a lesson to learn and grow from.
