You’ve set your new year goals, but you can’t really say you’re excited about all of them. You’re going to have to eat healthier and exercise more to lose weight, but you like eating out and sleeping in. The more you think about your goals and the steps you need to take to get there, the less enthusiastic you feel.
It’s time to be honest – you can’t force passion, and if your goals don’t reflect things you can be passionate about, you’re not going to stick with them. In the same way, just because you’re passionate about your goal doesn’t mean you can be passionate about the steps to get there.
That doesn’t mean you have to quit. If your goals or steps don’t light that fire in you, here are some tips to trick yourself into being more passionate.
- Have Resolve, Not Resolutions – Making resolutions does not equate to having the resolve to follow through on them. Change your mindset. Focus on having resolve about the things you do, not on the goals you’ve set. You might just find a new passion.
- Rephrase Your Goals – Sometimes changing your perception of the goals you have can help you recognize why you chose them in the first place. Write down your goal in as many ways as you can. Find a way to phrase it so you can recognize the passion you have for it.
- Know Your Why – Your goal may be to lose weight, but your passion may be to keep up with your kids during playtime. Put your why at the forefront of your mind to ignite that passion. And if your why isn’t enough to get your blood pumping then move on to a more important goal.
- Set Intentional Goals – Your goals don’t have to be world-changing. Set at least one goal that is intentionally, perfectly aligned with your existing passions. Love going to the movies? Set a goal to see at least one new movie a week for the year. Use that goal to reward or motivate you.
- Be Honest with Yourself – Again, don’t force passion. There’s nothing wrong with recognizing that you aren’t passionate about the goals you think you should be trying to accomplish. Accept when you don’t have passion for your goal and move on so you can accomplish more on the goals you are or can be passionate about.
References:
The “Passion Pivot”: How To Kick Off 2018 With A Resolution That Sticks
Don’t Bother with Resolutions This New Year
Done With New Year Resolutions? Seven Steps to Stay Motivated For the Long Haul
Resources:
Unconventional Life Show: The “Passion Pivot”
Gary Vee: Go All In On Your Strengths