Year-End Resolutions: Done

It's mid-summer. How have you been doing on those New Year's resolutions? Life has likely gotten in the way more than a few times. Luckily, you still have the latter part of the year to get it all done. We'll tackle reflecting on the year so far; pinpointing your five prevailing goals; building the infrastructure for a strong finish through PTT; concentrating on personal goals and becoming better; and gearing up for even more success next year.

Take some moments to reflect on the year so far. Yes, there have been some goals missed, and even some disappointments. But, you have also fulfilled some objectives, and even managed challenges that were unanticipated. You likely also realized new depths of your strength, creativity, commitment (to an aim or a person), and determination. Celebrate the successes and acknowledge the setbacks. After, you can organize your goals according to:

Admittedly, we're approaching the end of the year; so, time is even running shorter. We need to prioritize objectives. That means, we have to narrow down our immediate aspirations, and begin working, even more assiduously, on what needs to be done—must be done—by year end. Whittle the list down to no more than five goals. Don't just focus on professional or financial goals; also consider personal dreams, passions, well-being and similar aspects of your personhood that make you who you are. When determining these five urgent and prevailing goals, you want to consider the following areas:

Now that you've identified your five predominant goals, you need to build the infrastructure, set the trajectory, for a triumphant end of the year. Concentrate on the plans, tools and team—the PTT—that are required to fulfill these five priorities. With plans, explicate the goals that must be fulfilled; note how goal-achievement will benefit you in the immediate, intermediate, and long-term; and set binding deadlines for each of the goals. With tools, identify the software, equipment, methods, supports, and other tools that will enable, or at least facilitate, each priority. These tools need not be high-tech; but, they must be impactful. The tool can even include a vision board that you revisit at least weekly to rekindle your drive to realize long-held dreams and be spurred to redouble your efforts. With team, surround yourself with clear-eyed, unforgiving, "coaches" and supporters who love you enough to always want the best for you, and understand that they need to push you, sometimes toward areas of discomfort or uncertainty, for you to become your best self. This will be your "council," and it can be a revolving one. For each phase of your itinerary, consider if you have the best, and all the, people required to get where you need to be. You don't necessarily have to reduce the team (and remove people from the circle), but you will need to add to it, and adjust your frequency and level of interaction with "councilmembers," accordingly. PTT is the crux, and anchor, of your year-end strategy. Be responsive and adapt as needed.

Even with the best-laid plans, the most sophisticated tools, and the most qualified team, the unexpected will happen, there are factors and conditions you can never see, and there are opportunities that are unforeseen and unanticipated. How can you prepare for these? Stay open and continue asking for Guidance. Through meditative practice, you will exceed your goals and even achieve more than you can conceive.

Whether you're fighting for that next promotion or to saving the planet, don't forget about yourself. You can't change your life, or the world, if you're not your best self. So, we need to fulfill personal goals. What do you still need? What have you always promised to yourself? These are more than aspirations, most importantly, they are objectives we'll actually meet and goals we'll ultimately surpass. We know about SMART and SMARTER goals; but, we need QUEST goals:

You'll need to build on this year's successes and orient your "better you" toward continuous, and even greater, improvement. Toward that end, begin making plans, get in gear, for next year. Message contacts, or create ones, at target organizations; begin the training and diet regimen for the marathon; or start this week on date night with your partner (and make the needed childcare arrangements or adjust your hybrid schedule today). Additionally, maintain communication, and actively coordinate with, all the parties necessary for achieving your goals. Growing is never a solo expedition. 

As successful as this year will still be, there are even greater wins ahead. Diligent work for a week, or even inspired thought for a minute, can surpass even a year's worth of efforts. There are only a few months left, and it's all we ever needed.

Works Consulted

Cheney, A. (2024). 6 ways to turn challenges into opportunities. https://lassonde.utah.edu/6-ways-to-turn-challenges-into-opportunities/

Junça Silva, A., & Pinto, D. (2024). Training under an extreme context: the role of organizational support and adaptability on the motivation transfer and performance after training. Personnel Review, 53(3), 743-770. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/PR-09-2022-0629/full/html

Moore, L. J., Vine, S. J., Wilson, M. R., & Freeman, P. (2015). Reappraising threat: How to optimize performance under pressure. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 37(3), 339-343. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2014-0186

Mullen, R., Faull, A., Jones, E. S., & Kingston, K. (2015). Evidence for the effectiveness of holistic process goals for learning and performance under pressure. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 17, 40-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.11.003