Sometimes, in trying to improve ourselves, we put ourselves down for not already reaching and completing the goals we’ve set. We get so caught up in the idea of bettering ourselves we forget about those things that we have already improved on in the past.
This sets us up to be harsh on ourselves when we fall short of new goals, which in turn makes it more likely for us to abandon our goals all together. By taking the time to acknowledge the good in ourselves and the achievements we’ve earned in the past, we can improve our chances for success in the coming year.
Take some time to reflect on:
- the things you like about yourself, the things you don’t need to improve
- the positive changes you made in 2017
- how you can maintain those positive changes in 2018
- how those positive changes can help you achieve your new goals
You can support your Occupational, Environmental, Spiritual, Emotional, and Social wellbeing through this exercise.
Set a goal that keeps the momentum of your successes or improvements going into the new year. This not only helps you maintain positive changes (instead of ‘falling off the bandwagon’), it gives you a positive outlook on yourself in the new year. You may even be able to develop that positive change into a foundational or keystone habit that can perpetuate your new goals. But that’s a topic for another day.
Additional Reading:
Can’t keep your New Year’s resolutions? Try being kind to yourself