Almost everyone have new year visions, plans, goals set for themselves in other to experience substantial and positive change as they transit into the new year.
I bet you did too.
What about resolutions?
Resolutions like: "No more eating too much", "i will spend wisely", "No more alcohol or smoking", "I'll get closer to God and be serious with church", "I'll wake up early", "I'll be more respectful" and many other resolutions you may have made.
You get really esctastic after making this life changing decision on new year's day.
But more often than not, that rush of enthusiasm for your new year's resolution you stepped into 1st of January with might not live to see the month of February or March.
What happened to that enthusiasm and eagerness? It died off as the days went on.
These are usually caused by some factors:
• Setting unrealistic goals and expectations: Setting overambitious goals for yourself especially for the short-term. This leads to burn out and frustration. When progress is slow or unattainable, it wanes your enthusiasm.
Set goals that are realistic with a realistic deadline. Break goals into small, achievable steps.
Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals and track progress regularly.
• Vague goals that lacks specificity: When your goals are unclear without the touch of specificity, you're likely to loose motivation because your unclear goals gives no direction or measurable steps, therefore making it look difficult to achieve.
For example, instead of saying, "I'll make more money and be successful this 2025", you can say "I'll cut down on my spending habits, monitor my spending, save more, first invest in my business before paying myself". This looks more elaborate and specific at the same time. Do this in a way that works for you best for better result.
• Lack of immediate results: Instant result is a natural motivator and arouses enthusiasm when achieving goals. However, there are long term goals that needs longer time to achieve. Goals like getting in shape (fitness) or financial improvement. Goals like this needs sustainable efforts before result surfaces. If you don't understand the importance of patience and consistency in this situation, you may loose enthusiasm and give up on the long run.
A little tip to help on this one:
Consistency is very crucial. Hence, you have to turn your goals into habits through repetition else you'll fall off track, especially when life becomes busy or stressful.
• Loosing sight of your "why": People may start with strong intentions, but as the initial excitement fades, they lose sight of why they set the goal in the first place, making it harder to push through challenges. Knowing and understanding your "why" helps you persist in trying times.
• Lack of Planning (no clear action plan): Many resolutions lack a concrete plan of action. Without breaking down big goals into smaller, manageable tasks or setting a clear roadmap, individuals may feel overwhelmed or confused about how to proceed, leading to a loss of enthusiasm.
Therefore, you must sit down, think and plan how you can achieve your visions in chunks and bits.
There are other factors but these are key factors that kills the enthusiasm to pursue new year resolutions to the end.
Having looked at the problems, let's look at the practical tips to help solve the challenge.
Amongst the many tips that the internet or AI may proffer as solution, there's one tip that's a game changer for me and might be for you.
PIN YOUR GOALS AND RESOLUTIONS ON THE TOP OF YOUR MIND; just as you pin an important message at the top of all other chats on WhatsApp.
Why does WhatsApp have such feature?
It is to keep that important message at a position where it'll always be seen despite other chats that may get the important one lost. This avoids the stress of looking for that important chat when it's needed.
It is what you priotize and keep as a hanging picture, you'll see everyday and become. You become as you behold. (2 Corinthians 3:18).
For some reasons, I was greatly stirred to write and plan my 2025 in the month of November last year (I usually write my new year goals at the last few days of the previous year).
After the day I had written it, I'd always look at those visions. I'd read it over and over again. And it so entered my subconscious such that those goals are the major thing I always think about. Even my decisions would revolve round it.
I realized they became part of me. In fact, I had already achieved one of those goals before I entered the new year. I literally became and still is obsessed with the visions.
I later realized the Holy spirit wanted to teach me something.
This is simply how I got my plans pinned in my mind. I made it part of me by looking at it, reading it almost everyday, think about it, visualizing the end result, even praying it as prayer points. I got obsessed.
You can apply it too. It may work for you.
Have copies of it anywhere you can easily see it. I had to create two copies of it. One in my diary and a soft copy in my phone's note pad.
Intwrestingly, Bible says something about visions. "And the Lord answered me and said, write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he may run who reads it". (Habakkuk 2:2).
For you to have what to run with, you need to have it written on paper else you'll run but chase shadows.
Making your visions plain is simply planning those visions in a way that is very understandable and achievable.
Now, the purpose of writing it isn't just for the sake of it. It is for you to have something to look at when you feel very unmotivated or wearied when challenges hits hard or when the enthusiasm that comes with the new year wears out. For God Himself to emphasize this, it means it is strictly important.
When you've successfully done this, you can then apply other strategies the internet may give you to help you smash your goals this year.
Additionally, 'pray' your visions. Each goal is a prayer point even if it looks very simple to achieve. It is by His SPIRIT not your power. Acknowledge the Holy Spirit at every step and turn. Also ask Him to help and guide you through the journey.
This is what I thought to share with you. I hope it helps. I pray you successfully achieve you goals this year.
God bless you and Joyous new year from us. 😊
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