Finding Your “Why:” 5 Ways to Help You Tackle Goals & Resolutions for the New Year

Are you ready to kick off 2024 with a set plan to reach the goals you’ve set in place?

Setting goals for the new year can often feel like a daunting task, especially if there is no clear direction. On one hand, it is important to maintain a system of check-points throughout the year to ensure that you are working toward your goals. On the other, it is also important to not overwhelm yourself. Too much pressure can be debilitating, allowing for little motivation to move from where you are. 

One of the root causes of not following through with goals, as this Indeed article covers, is not knowing where to begin or where our priorities lie. This is why finding your “why” is essential. Leading with purpose allows the rest to fall into place. 

What is your purpose this year? What are your focuses? 

Here are some ways to find your purpose, set goals, and manifest a productive new year.

 

1. Determine what helped and hindered you last year.

People often do not achieve their goals because they fail to understand that setting goals is a process that requires making long-term positive changes to set themselves up for success–an undertaking that calls for reflection and strategy. 

Let’s journal! Take out a piece of paper and take your time answering these questions:

• What goals were you able to accomplish? 
• Which ones did you not accomplish? 
• Why were you unable to accomplish these goals? 
• Is there a common theme as to why the goals were not complete? 
• What practices did you set in place to pursue those goals? 
• What worked? What didn’t? 

Maybe one of your goals last year was to advance your career by earning a certification in a field you are interested in, but the furthest you were able to manage was the research. Reflecting on why goals were not accomplished allows you to see what your initial steps are in the new year, while not repeating the strategic mistakes you’ve made in the past.

 

 

2. Select a “word of the year.”

Another way people live out their “why” is selecting a word of the year and live it out as fully as possible. A word of the year usually consists of a quality or action that a person wishes to grow in. In Elizabeth Rider’s article “How to Choose a Word of the Year,” she walks readers through a journaling prompt similar to the one above and allows space for readers to dive further into how they felt about accomplishing their goals. She asks readers to choose one to five words that speak to how they would like to feel in the upcoming year. 

As Rider mentions in her article, choosing a word of the year allows a type of flexibility that you can grow from, developing other concrete goals, while staying true to your “why.” 

For example, if someone’s word for the new year is “grow,” they may find ways to grow in different areas of their life. Professionally, this could mean going back to school to change the trajectory of their career. 

 

3. Make a vision board.

Another way to ensure you accomplish your goals for the new year is creating a vision board. A vision board is a poster (physical or digital) that includes a visual depiction of what you would like your year to look like. This may include inspirational figures, photos of what you would like to physically accomplish, or phrases to help you stay motivated. 

 

If you’ve chosen a word of the year, place it in the center of your vision board and make it visible, so you may see it daily. Some people create phone wallpaper versions of it, so they may see it daily. 

 

For instructions for creating a physical vision board, click here. Canva also has many free vision board templates anyone can use if you prefer a digital version.

 

4. Stay disciplined, and check in with yourself.

While the word “discipline” may hold a negative connotation to some, it is important to frame  discipline as a form of loyalty to yourself. Creating a structure that works for you is to say “stop breaking the promises you make to yourself.” It’s time to trust your intuition and make your dreams happen. 

One of the most important ways to keep yourself accountable in accomplishing your goals is to make sure you are placing time aside each month to check in with yourself. Reference your yearly goals monthly. 

 

Ask questions that pertain to your goals: Do you want to advance your career? Where are you in that process? Have you applied to certification programs? These monthly checkpoints can give you a quick jolt to remind you of how much time there is left to complete them.

 

5. Give yourself grace; understand what you can control.

No matter how detailed your 2024 road map is, there are bound to be setbacks. This is why it is essential to allow yourself the space for these adjustments and trust where you are being led. Completing the goals you set for the new year is not easy, especially if these goals are significant in your life. However, setting goals for the year gives you a long-term vision and short-term motivation. Remember to set yourself up for success, focus on what is in your control–your time and your resources. In sum, understand the value of your goals; while the achievement counts for something, who you become along the way is more important. 

For more helpful tips and information, be sure to visit our blogs page!

 

by Gabriela Villegas