“This year, I told myself I was going to get this done and I botched it – again. Why even bother?” How many times have you said this to yourself? I do it every single year. I bash myself over the head over missed opportunities and goals not met – whether by a millimeter or by a mile. I see all of it as FAILURE in flashing neon lights. I am my worst and most cruel critic. And in the end, I am ultimately responsible for not moving forward.

It’s easy to give up.

It’s hard to keep going.

To forgive yourself. To let it go. To analyze why your goals weren’t met with an honest eye and do the work.

Do the work to analyze your own behavior, dedication, and skill. Do the work to research and figure out what works and how it will fit into your life. Do the work to modify your life to fulfill those goals.

Even if it hurts.

Self-blame and blame of others are counterproductive to change.

Look at this new year as a precious opportunity.  An opportunity to get it right and put yourself on the path you want:

• Suck It Up, Buttercup. Re-evaluate last year’s goals with an objective eye. Ask yourself: Are these goals still what you want? Is achieving them reasonable and within your ability?
• What’s Up? Forgive, not excuse, yourself from achieving them and let last year’s goals go – if you choose them again, they are now NEW goals for this year. Ask yourself:  Do I have too many goals? Can I break them into more manageable pieces? Am I devoting enough time and energy to achieve them?
• Nancy Drew This Thing. Think about each of your goals and why you didn’t accomplish them. Ask yourself: Are there ways you could modify your life to accomplish them? Is there a class you could take? Can you find an accountability partner or a group to help make the chances of meeting your challenge more likely?
• Work It! Create a more workable plan. Ask yourself: Am I being honest with myself about when, where and how I can get these things done? Can I find ways to work my goals into my day? If not every day, some days?
• You Talkin’ To Me? Adjust your attitude in spirit, mind, and body. Ask yourself: Do I believe I am meant to do this? Do I know everything I need to know to get these goals accomplished? Am I physically able to accomplish these tasks and am I healthy enough to get the job done?

Knowing what you want is not good enough. Knowing that you are meant to do it is not good enough. Knowing and setting goals is not even good enough. If a plan is not in your year for your goals to become an integral part of your life, you will probably find yourself right back at the self-torture that is December. Believe me, I have.

Not doing it again.

I hope you won’t either.

Show yourself and 2017 you’ve got this.