As we roll into 2022, you are probably thinking about your goals for the new year. As you set your aspirational and action goals, I urge you to also think about what will you not do in the next year that will increase your chances of achieving your goals.
Here is my perspective on it – 3 things to say ‘no’ to, to have more time, energy, commitment, peace of mind, and a higher probability of success –
- Saying “yes” when you want to say “no” is the biggest sucker of time, energy, and peace of mind.
We want to be liked, accepted, and respected. We do not want to hurt anyone, and sometimes we feel obliged to say ‘yes’. As a result, we end up frustrated, tired, and resentful. We have lesser time and energy for things that we want to do.
If this is a struggle for you, ask yourself the following –
– Do I really want to do this?
– Why am I saying ‘yes’?
– What are my priorities?
– How much spare time do I have to support this request?
– By saying ‘yes’ to this, what am I saying ‘no’ to?
You are accountable for creating healthy boundaries for yourself. This is the foundation for your success.
2. Worrying about things you do not control. Whether you like it or not, things will happen in the world that you do not control. Being a control freak or a chronic worrier will not regulate every outcome or avert world disasters. Most of the time, you can control only 2 things – your attitude and your actions.
Next time you find yourself in a loop of worrying thoughts instead of figuring out solutions, stop driving yourself crazy and ask –
– What is the worst that can happen?
– What is in my control?
– How can I put my time and energy where it can make a difference?
– What can I do to feel better now?
3. Hiding behind excuses. We have all been here. We blame our circumstances, people around us, even our fate when we do not attain our goals. We abdicate our responsibility and rationalize our actions or inactions because we are afraid, lazy, unwilling, or not confident.
This is the worst thing to do to ourselves because eventually, we buy into our excuses and stop looking for solutions.
Take responsibility for the outcome, figure out what you are really trying to avoid by making excuses, and address it head-on. Be aware of when you make excuses. Ask yourself –
– Why is this goal important for me?
– Why do I really want it?
– What have I done to achieve my goal?
– What am I doing to not achieve my goal?
– If the excuse was real, what would I do to overcome it?
Would you add to this list? Which one would you adopt as your resolution? I look forward to hearing about how your life changes by intentionally dropping behaviors that do not serve you.