What would you like to learn? Is there a home project you want to complete? What would you love to achieve? The big question is: are you sticking to a plan and following through enough to make it a reality? Humans have the innate desire to learn and grow, yet so many of us get so caught up in obligations, responsibilities, and distractions that we can quickly get off track, stuck, or even worse, give up altogether. How often have some of us said we would like to lose weight, want to make more time for our family, or learn something new – and then didn’t follow through? There is no doubt that failing to reach our goals can not only be frustrating, but downright discouraging as well. Our brains are not wired for change. As a matter of fact, according to Inc. com, science says that 92 percent of us do not achieve our goals. That statistic is startling. But guess what? Just because we get off track doesn’t mean we can’t get back on the road to learning, practicing and achieving our goals.
I am no stranger to getting off track. I wanted to play the piano, but I stopped practicing and didn’t continue to take lessons. I went to college right out of high school, but somehow, I got sidetracked. I fell in love, married, had a family, and never earned my college degree. After getting divorced, I picked myself up, brushed myself off, and went back to college to pursue my dreams. I remember being so nervous sitting in classrooms with those young “kids.” (It’s funny how our perception of age changes as we become older.) Several years later, I earned my bachelor’s degree! I was so excited and grateful to my husband, Brian, who supported my dream the whole time that I walked right by the person handing out the diploma, stood in the middle of the stage, mouthed the words thank you, and blew kisses to my husband!!! Most of the audience had no idea what I was doing but my classmates cheered and clapped loudly. I couldn’t stop smiling! It was one of the best days of my life, and I will never forget the joy and sense of accomplishment I felt. I spent many days and nights with my nose in books, and I can tell you that it was totally worth it! Life does happen, but I’ve learned that sticking to the plan and following through is necessary to do things we have never done before!
One of the main reasons we fail to complete projects or reach our goals is that our plans are typically not specific enough. For example, many of us would love to lose weight, but simply saying we want to lose weight is not a plan. A plan entails a well-thought-out road map that we write down. A plan to lose weight might sound something like this: I will exercise on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
I will choose whole foods and avoid processed foods. I will lose 10 pounds in one month, etc. You get the idea. Learning to stick to a plan and following through is easier than we think! We now know that our goals need to be as specific as possible. Our goals must also be challenging but realistic, so we don’t give up before we can see any results. Breaking down our goals or the projects we want to complete into smaller steps can help us take notice of (and perhaps even celebrate) all the little wins along the way. Finding an accountability partner can help us stay on track by holding us accountable and motivating us when we face challenges. Of course, we must also schedule and prioritize the time necessary to work on our goals and create specific deadlines for each step in the plan. Remember, the more specific your plan, the more empowered and in control you will feel in achieving your goals.
We must also embrace the idea that it is okay to get off track, and that failure in our lives is sometimes inevitable. It’s a natural part of the journey, certainly not a sign of defeat. When we fail to reach our goals, we have an excellent opportunity to grow and learn how to do better the next time. It doesn’t matter whether we are learning a new language, learning to play an instrument, seeking a promotion at work, or aiming to be consistently kinder to others; if we remember what we want for ourselves, create a detailed plan to get there, and never give up, we can accomplish anything we set our minds to do. Remember, the journey to success is not always easy, but it’s the determination and resilience to never give up that will make all the difference.