How to make your dreams reality (Part 1)

There seems to be a buzz around social media of poo-pooing New Year’s resolutions. They don’t work. You’re setting yourself up for failure.

When I was chatting with a friend I was almost apologizing. “Yes, I’m one of those who make New Year’s Resolutions.”

I love a new year because it’s a time to assess last year and readjust for this year. When I looked back over 2018, I hit some and didn’t hit others.

  • Exercising 3 times a week –Goal Accomplished.
  • Read 25 books –Goal Accomplished
  • Summit 100 freelance articles –I submitted 7.
  • Publish a 30-day devotional ebook–New goal is February 28.
  • 12 Speeches in Toastmasters–I gave 11 speeches.
  • Write a novel–I got halfway through.
  • Blog weekly–26 blog posts.

This doesn’t mean I quit making New Year’s resolutions. I’m okay with not hitting all my goals. If I hadn’t set goals, it would be difficult to assess progress and course correct. I learn from my mistakes, celebrate my wins and prepare for a new year.

In the in the process, I figured out who I am and what I love to do. I may go back to writing my novel at some point, but I realized my passion is for non-fiction. I didn’t give a speech in Toastmasters in December because I needed to be present with my family more than I needed to check the box. The experience in Toastmasters was amazing. Regardless of how many speeches I gave, I learned confidence and skills that will serve me well.

I also realized I set too many goals. There just weren’t enough hours in the day to freelance, write a book, blog consistently and write and deliver speeches. This year I’m taking a minimilist approach and setting fewer obtainable goals.

The last thing I learned from assessing my year is there was a disconnect between what I wanted to accomplish and what I needed to do each day to make it happen. Each month I wrote my goal on my planner. The end of the week came, the article or post was unwritten. With new determination, I wrote it on the new month. So on and so forth.

To make dreams reality you have to know what you need to do each day to get there.

I broke down six goals for 2019 into daily steps. So far the charts have helped keep me on target, and I’m excited for a new year!

Exercise 30 Minutes–5 Times a Week
Read 25 books in 2019
Complete 3 Compel Lessons each week
Write 500 words–5 times a week
Submit one freelance article a month
Write a blog post each week

What about you? In 365 days, when you look back over 2019 what one thing can you do today to begin to make your dreams reality?

One comment

  1. MARY SCHURDELL

    I appreciated this post, as the month of January was quickly slipping away and I had not set any goals for 2019. I too seemed to always set way too many goals, and I realized I was just being unrealistic and setting myself up for failure.
    Therefore, as of today I now have my 2019 goals set. I tried to be realistic and decided upon six goals this year.

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