As 2022 closes, we reflect on the commitments we made to ourselves at the beginning of the year, or at some point during the last eleven months. We may have wanted to improve our health, find new work that is fulfilling, surround ourselves with people who inspire us, improve our existing relationships, etc.
Did you make similar commitments to yourself? How did that work out for you? For most people, New Year’s resolutions are forgotten by February. For others, they don’t even try to set goals, because they don’t want to be disappointed when they can’t achieve them. Often we start inspired, full of passion and energy. Then doubt or fear start to seep into our thoughts. Before we know it, we have let go of our goals. We become disappointed and frustrated, with even less confidence that we will be able to commit to changing in the future. Sound familiar?
Why is it so hard to remain committed to our goals and dreams? It’s because staying committed to our desires requires change. Though we see ourselves a very adaptable, we may be the species that is the most resistant to change on the planet! The trees don’t resist losing their leaves in the fall. The migrating birds don’t resist leaving their homes to fly thousands of miles away each year. Yet, we have such a hard time with even the smallest shifts in our lives. Change requires two things we humans resist the most – fear and pain.
We fear the unknown. We would rather stay in an extremely uncomfortable relationship or job, rather than risking taking a chance on something new. We would rather play it safe than possibly making a mistake and failing. We also fear pain. With every shift comes pain…the pain of growth and the grief of the letting go. Resisting change to because of fear or to avoid pain causes us to miss out on some of our life’s greatest adventures and the opportunity to shine our brightest light in the world.
The clients that have the most success making positive shifts in their lives are not only committed to change, they also are willing to embrace their fears; look deeply within to see what has been holding them back; and bravely face the pain associated with letting go, learning new skills and personal evolution.
In this month’s Human Potential Network’s free workshop, I will cover the three principles to remain committed to yourself, your goals and dreams. This is the perfect time to reflect on what it is you desire for the coming year and to shine a light on what has been blocking your growth in the past. This will help you to take steps to overcome these roadblocks. Realizing our personal commitments require cultivating the three principles of: Discipline, Resilience and Learning.
I. The principle of Discipline starts with understanding why we would want to make the change in the first place. Staying focused on our “why” is a powerful motivator and helps us stay on track, through thick and thin, until we realize our goal. Another important aspect of Discipline is developing a regular practice to move us steadily forward a little bit each day. In addition, having a clear way to stay accountable through the support of a friend, coach or community will help us stay disciplined.
II. The principle of Resilience includes understanding that the path to success is not a straight line, but rather a series of ups and downs. When we can see this larger perspective and learn to face our fear and pain, understanding that it is part of the process of our own evolution and growth, we become more resilient and able to pick ourselves up after each bump along our path. The keys to fostering resilience include: setting milestones, monitoring our progress; evaluating what’s working and what’s not; and, making continual adjustments along the way.
III. The principle of Learning is one of the most overlooked aspects of staying committed to change. We are so focused on the prize of achieving our goals that we often forget that the fruits of the transformational journey are often the most precious parts. When we adventure to do or become something new, we have the opportunity to learn so much about ourselves in the process. This is what Joseph Campbell referred to in his famous book the “Hero’s Journey”. In our own personal hero’s journey we must overcome hurdles, learn from these and finally come back to our community to share this wisdom with others.
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f you would like to learn more about how you can remain committed to achieving your goals and dreams in the coming year, check out this free workshop: Dec 6th, 2022 (7pm to 8:30pm, est).
You can also book a FREE, no obligation, Discovery Consultation today
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