Happy Monday my friends! It’s the third Monday of the year, which means it’s quite possible that your enthusiasm for your New Year’s goals and resolutions is starting to fade.
Do I have that right?
If so, you’re not alone. Allstate even has a TV spot about broken resolutions.
This past week I’ve given a lot of thought as to why this happens. My enthusiasm has started to wane a bit, too, because my plan hasn’t been going…well…as planned. Last week I had a stomach virus. And in the last few weeks we’ve had unexpected car repairs (on more than one car, ugh) and now one of those cars is completely dead. Double ugh.
The stomach virus meant that just as I was getting my new weekly routine up and running, it came to a screeching halt. And the money I had earmarked for a new couch? Well that went to car repairs, so the couch will have to wait.
It’s this darn real-world stuff that can make it tricky to stay the course on our goals and resolutions! After all, we’re only two weeks in, and already we see that our plan isn’t perfect. It would be so easy to say “this goal and resolution stuff doesn’t work,” wouldn’t it?
But let’s not do that. Instead, let’s think about what’s really going on. Here’s what I think it is. When we dream about creating change in our lives, it’s done from a place of no constraints. This is good because those lack of boundaries help us get to the core of what we really want. But, as soon as we go from planning to doing, the real world becomes a very big part of the equation, even if, we’ve created a pretty realistic plan. But these bumps in the road don’t mean we should stop.
Instead, when things don’t go as planned, make a new plan and keep moving forward.
Here’s my new plan:
- Focus on free or nearly-free house projects until budget can be freed up for a new couch. (I can get excited about that because it gets me back to thinking about possibilities instead of focusing on the obstacles.)
- Pick up where I left off on my weekly routine.
- Remember my intention. This last one is really key. If your intention for the year is meaningful to you, if it’s truly important, then reconnecting with it will reignite your fire. Give it a try, and see what happens.
How about you? How are things going on your New Year’s goals and resolutions? Are you still feeling excited and enthused, or have you hit a few speed bumps, too? Thanks for sharing!
Aby
P.S. I also wanted to share some exciting news. I was featured in the Secrets of Getting Organized in the Sanity Savers roundtable on paper pileups. I know that paper clutter is a huge source of stress for many of us, so if tackling it is one of your 2018 resolutions, pick up a copy! This gorgeous BHG publication is on sale now through March 25th at newsstands and bookstores nationwide, as well as in grocery stores, home centers, big box retailers, drugstores, discount chains, as well as chain and independent booksellers – pretty much everywhere, haha!
Nothing like the stomach flu to zap motivation, right? Sorry… it is everywhere. I think just being prepared for those bumps – expecting them – can be helpful. We can call them out for what they are when they arise, and then take time to chart a plan to conquer them. A visual image of the goal is also something that helps me to stay on track, as in accountability. I decided to do a video series all month long, which turns out to be a lot of work. However, once I publicized it, I knew I would follow through!
Yes, accountability is a huge motivator, isn’t it!