Goals for a new year

Setting attainable goals requires forethought and effort, but the rewards are endless

Setting goals is not something that comes to me naturally. Apparently I’m not alone. According to a University of Scranton study, only eight percent of people actually achieve their New Year’s resolutions. While we all want to change our life for the better, we often forget that real growth doesn’t involve a quick-fix. It’s a process that’s long and twisted and occasionally full of setbacks.  

Problems can arise when we set an intention before we’re ready to embark on the journey. No offense, but you’re probably not going to set a PR or qualify for Boston unless you already have a strong aerobic base and are willing to do some speedwork.  

And just because you might fall short of some lofty ambition – like qualifying for Boston – that doesn’t negate all the hard work that went into the effort. When you step away from the end result, you realize that the journey is (most of) the reward. But not all of it. 

Somewhere between dreams and reality is the sweet spot where we challenge ourselves in a healthy manner that both tests and respects our limits. Our goals should inspire and at times humble us, but they shouldn’t overwhelm or scare us into inactivity. 

Setting attainable goals requires a bit of effort and forethought, but the good news is that it becomes more intuitive with experience. As the new year dawns, I thought it would be a fun exercise to review my own process. 

(This is an interactive game. You can play too.)