Photo of fall flowers gone to seed with the words, Say "No" to New Year, New You

Say “No” to “New Year, New You!”

The date on the calendar is drawing closer!

The date I circled to begin working toward my goal.

I have freedom until then. I don’t have to worry about trying to do something new. I can keep everything just as it is.

Even if I really want to obtain the goal. I don’t really want to do the work.

Too bad for me that to reach the goal, I have to put in the time. I can’t figure out a way around that. Believe me, I’ve tried!

If I want to be able to speak and understand French, I have to practice (and learn French grammar).

If I want to run three miles, I have to be consistent about running.

If I want to write a book, I have to write regularly.

It’s just the way it is.

My old approach to a goal.

The old way I approached goals was to avoid doing the work for as long as possible, I would tell myself I would begin on Monday, or the first of the month, or the first of the year. Then I can work toward a better me.

New year, new you, right?

**cue eye roll**

And now…

I am so done with the idea that we need to be better versions of ourselves. I don’t have to reach a goal to be a better or “new” me. And obtaining a goal isn’t going to magically improve me.

It took a long time for me to understand this. Goals were not the way to discover my worthiness.

My worth is not tied to a goal. I am worthy as I am. I don’t evolve and grow because I obtained a goal. The actions I take working toward the goal is where the real magic happens. Realizing that the work is really alchemy makes it easier to sit down and work. I mean, I want to create some magic. It sounds, well, magical.

But, even with this new way of thinking about the work to get to the goal, waiting often builds it up in my head as some big, scary deal. And that feeling is hard to shake.

It makes me want to put off doing the work, even if I know there will be magic there.

Putting off the work hurts nobody but me.

And I deserve better than that, so when I decide I want to work toward a goal, I try to do something as soon as possible to start working toward it.  

If any of this resonates with you, I invite you to download Goals, but Different.

Goals, but Different
A guide to discovering how to create goals and work toward them with self-compassion.

Is there a goal you’ve been thinking about? Are you ready to work toward it? What is one tiny thing you could do right now that will start moving you forward?

I want to hear from you!

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