10 January 2025 New Year Goals | Coaching for Change
New Year Goals: 7 Practical Ideas to Make Your Star Shine
“Have you already thought about your goals for this year'?
"How do You intend to make Your Star shine"?
We, human beings, have a deep structure that defines and characterises us, and often, as if wrapped in layers of ice, we hide our true essence under the expectations and judgments of others, conditioning and roles, which end up limiting us from what we really want to be, do and create.
In order to give substance to what we want to be, do, and createit is necessary to set goals that can guide us concretely on our way.
Why are targets important?
Our goals and objectives are important because they define the purpose of our actions and provide us with a clear direction in which to move.
Defining one's goals is important for two reasons in particular:
- to give a sense of concreteness to what one does every day, every week and every month, in one's life and work;
- not to let things happen to us without being aware of them.
I sometimes hear this phrase:
"I do not set myself goals because then if I cannot achieve them I get terribly discouraged".
This phrase denotes a fear of failure, which is understandable but limiting, and expresses a generalised sense of dissatisfaction, even before you start doing something.
One of the most important things to do therefore is define quantifiable objectives, with precise progress indicators (e.g. month on month) and achievable with one's own means and resources, without forgetting what one can improve or learn more.
This will make it easier approaching the result in a gradual but steady mannerfinding ways to deal with the inevitable difficulties a little at a time.
REQUEST A CALLRecurring errors in goal setting
There are some recurring but avoidable mistakes when setting your goals and planning to achieve them.
Here are what I think are the main ones:
- too general and abstract objectives: “I want to be happier"is not a concrete goal, it is a generic desire. It becomes a concrete goal when one begins to specify precisely what it means for oneself to be happy and put down on paper what elements make for personal happiness. The word happy is made up of many nuances and meanings. By defining what is actually meant, and writing it down, the concept becomes concrete and tangible, and can be revisited whenever necessary.
- unreasonable commitments and expectations: In order to avoid demotivation, it is good not to lose sight of reality and to think of an action plan with reduced progressive steps, with which to approach what is dear to one's heart. It is necessary to check one's starting point according to one's real possibilities, to think about how these can improve over time and, consequently, how to achieve what one desires without neglecting continuous commitment, constancy and discipline.
- lack of flexibility in the action plan: life is unpredictable, and therefore in pursuing one's aspirations and ambitions, one must be prepared to adapt plans and, when mistakes and failures occur, instead of seeing them as a defeat, learn to look at them as a learning opportunity. This means thinking about what to do when something does not go according to expectations and what to do to contain any negative effects.
- focus only on results: the process is as important as the end result. Paying attention to what is happening as we pursue our goals allows us to learn and build by experiencing. Commitment along the way needs to be thought out and organised in advance, carefully defining why the goal is important, so that it is brought to mind even when things get difficult.
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Realistic goals: 7 practical ideas for the New Year
Here are some examples of realistic goals for the New Year, which can help to make your star shine, and achieve your goals over time:
1. Improving a specific competence
Whether learning a new language, mastering software or developing a creative skill, investing in your personal development is always a good idea.
2. Strengthening important relationships
Spend more time with the people you love, cultivate new friendships and work on improving communication.
3. Adopting healthier habits
Start an exercise routine, eat healthier or get enough sleep, and give yourself time to relax. Small, progressive changes can lead to results.
4. Simplify your life
Eliminate the superfluous and organise your space. A tidier life will allow you to focus on what really matters to you.
5. Exploring a new passion
Sign up for a course, travel to a new place, or try a sport you have never played before. All these things set new energy in motion, in unexpected ways.
6. Making a contribution
Volunteer, support a cause you care about or simply offer to help someone without being asked. These ways are useful to make your positive presence felt.
7. Learning to say no
Learn to organise your schedule and manage your time, setting limits to avoid unnecessary stress and overloading yourself.
Conclusions: New Year goals, how to make your star shine
Shining one's own star means giving substance to what we want to be, do, and create.
It means defining your goals and giving yourself the right time and effort to reach themnot forgetting that the route is as important as the destination.
Along the way it is important to learn to overcoming one's fears of failure and to turning obstacles into opportunities for learning and growth: things always happen for some reason.
To achieve your goals, you need to an action plan and a good dose of conscious patience and perseveranceOnly in this way, drawing conclusions after a number of months, will one find oneself enriched and truly fulfilled.
Whether you have already decided on concrete goals to work on this year, or you are still thinking about it, as a professional coach it is likely that I can help you.
Contact me today and we will work out the plan together to make your star shine!
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