Starting off Strong — Kim Anderson

I don’t know about you, but I always feel energized and motivated during this time of the year. The holidays are behind me, decorations are put away, and I am able to be inspired by the open pages of the new year. I have always gotten giddy about the opportunity to set goals for the year, dream big, and step out in new directions, even before I worked in the field of personal growth (yes, I am a self-development nerd). Now, it’s a gift to create space for my goals, as well as the goals of those I work with.

It’s easy to get excited about all of the possibilities in front of us and then feel defeated once our New Year’s resolutions fade away into the same similar patterns and old habits that keep us stuck. This year, let’s abandon the idea of New Year’s resolutions and pick up New Year “daily disciplines” instead.

We can all reach our goals in 2020 by incorporating daily disciplines into our lives. Here are three benefits of daily disciplines. They…

1. Keep us from fear.

When we set big, audacious goals, we often doubt our ability to reach them. Sometimes we sabotage ourselves in order to stay safe. Sometimes we let others tell us that our dreams are ridiculous or frivolous. By practicing new habits each day, we can build confidence as we witness evidence of our growth. Need some help with habit-forming behavior? Check out James Clear’s Atomic Habits for some great tips.

2. Keep us from comparison.

Comparison can definitely derail our hopes and dreams as we let others' successes diminish ours. Guess what? Someone else’s success does not equate to your loss. Someone else’s victory doesn’t mean you are less than. You are you. Keep your eyes on your goals and focus on your new habits each day.

3. Keep us energized.

How often do we set big goals, prepare for them with excitement, and then lose focus and give up? By February (or maybe even the end of January), we’ve forgotten our goals and why we even set them in the first place. Daily disciplines allow us to stay focused on what we want, why we want it, and how to get there.

I want to see you go for it in 2020! I want to see you clarify your goals, and then establish daily disciplines so you can look back at the end of 2020 and see your growth. Ditch the New Year’s resolutions for something manageable and attainable. Your dreams are worth it, and so are you!

You’re amazing! Start living like it!