THE NEW YEAR STANDS BEFORE US, LIKE A CHAPTER IN A BOOK, WAITING TO BE WRITTEN……
As the year draws to a close I have spent the past few days looking back into what this year brought for me. Reflecting on the whole year , comparing my growth and my achievements based on all the goals I set for myself at the start of every year. I feel so proud that I achieved 3/5 goals I set for myself. for year 2018 given I was juggling full time work , being a parent and full time studying with everything else. Setting your goals at the start of a new year is a good way of providing yourself with clarity, focus and motivation to achieving those goals . The challenge that one faces as the year progresses is keeping the motivation, drive and focus to not failing in achieving what you have set up for yourself. The main reason we fail to achieve what we have set up to do when the new year start is because we set our goals based on others and other reasons. Focus on the WHY.…that is so important to know why you want to achieve or setting that goal for yourself. The clear the vision or the reason behind that goal the easier it will be to execute it. If your goal is based on impressing people or to prove a point, chances are likely that you will lose interest and focus halfway and not get to the finish line. Do it for yourself. Write the goal(s) down…..if you have a step by step guide , small deadlines to meet as the months, weeks or days pass or a carefully planned strategy for the length , it is likely that you will get to the finish line of your goal. I keep a journal (with a step to step guide) by my bed side table that I look at first thing in the morning and last thing before bedtime. That keeps my motivation burning. Be realistic about your goals .….. the process and time frame it will take you to achieve them because if you set your self goals that are unrealistic you are setting yourself for failure. Share with the right ear….. this is the crucial part. We get so excited about our plans to get to our goals that we share too much too soon and with the wrong crowd. Not everyone will get or even support what you are trying to do or achieve which may lead to being discouraged from achieving that goal. Be ready to put in the work.….some people are eager for success that they take short cuts and are not prepared to put in the work that is necessary for them to succeed. In life you get back what you put in. And it is also important to be prepared mentally. Our minds are great tools and our success stories start by being created in our minds. When you see the end result in your mind it pushes you to want to achieve it.
Commitment is the foundation of great accomplishments…..if you commit yourself to your goal it gives you courage, drive and determination to sacrifice a lot of your time and dedicate it to the goals you have set. Some things will need to be sacrificed in order to achieve some goals. But remember it will not be like that forever. Discipline and celebrate yourself  ……  when you reach those small milestones you have set for yourself but also remember that failing is not an option. With all that in mind I am so excited for the start of the new year because it means new opportunities and revisiting missed opportunities. Make 2019 your year of achieving those goals and pushing even harder than last year. Remember dreams are only valid if you work towards them or if not they remain just dreams. Who is ready to crush 2019 with me?