We all have our strengths – many of which come naturally. For some, math and numbers are a second language and for others, art and creativity is their entire life. However, some qualities in a person can start as weaknesses before they become strengths. One of the reasons many people give up on their New Year’s resolutions is because they see the obstacles placed in front of them and cannot overcome them. They want to be fit and healthy, but they can’t find the time to work out. They want to land their dream job, but they’re too nervous about interviewing or failing. In order to reach your goals, you need to examine from every perspective what the obstacles are that are stopping you from reaching them. Try not to see something as a weakness, but as a skillset that needs strengthening.
If something is missing, fill in the gap.
Sometimes there’s just a missing piece of the puzzle you need to find. If there is something you don’t know or understand about your goal, your first step is to research. Nobody goes into something new completely understanding what it is right away because most things are not common knowledge. I can say the sky is blue, but for you, the sky could be grey or black. We all learn things differently just like we all see things differently. Perhaps you’re learning guitar. Are you going to be playing like Jimi Hendrix right away? Probably not. You need to research and practise for a very (VERY) long time before you can master guitar that way. Is it maybe a little easier for some to learn guitar – yes. But should you let that discourage you? Absolutely not. Nobody is born with knowledge, it is up to you to commit and fill in that gap.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure of something either. For many of us, there’s a fear of coming off as “dumb” if we ask too many questions – but try to see it as ambitious. Not as “stupid” but as passionate and willing to learn.
Remove distractions
There are a billion things that can distract us on a day-to-day basis. Maybe you’re not hitting the gym because you’re scrolling through an endless stream of videos on Facebook. Or maybe you’re not working on your resume because you decided that binge-watching the entire Star Wars series (again) on Disney+ was more important. Manage your time effectively and keep track of how much time you spend with these distractions. Or if you can, try to completely remove these distractions from your life. Try shutting down social media for a week or challenging yourself to not watch TV for a month. Or when you feel the need to turn to these distractions, put that energy and effort towards something productive that will help you get one step closer to your goals.
Have a plan
You can see the end goal. At the end of the tunnel, you can see where you want to be, but how do you get there? Gaining a new skill or accomplishing a goal takes time and that time needs to be managed efficiently. You don’t want to burn yourself out right away by spending every waking minute on your goal. If you’re learning a new instrument, start by setting aside a few days a week practising for an hour. Then slowly increase your practise time. If you’re hitting the gym, start with three days a week and as you go, increase the amount of time you’re spending there. Your goal starts with you and only you can make results happen. There will always be hurdles when it comes to learning a new skill, so don’t allow them to bring you down. Allow them to make you stronger and shape you into a brighter, better person.
Don’t let your dreams be simply dreams. Establish what you want to accomplish and make it happen because only you can do that. Turn off that voice in your head that says “no” and turn up the voice telling you to “go for it.” Find inspiration wherever you can and make your 2020 resolutions happen this year!
“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” ― Molière