We’ve all heard the axiom that life is a journey, not a destination. Forming new goals around this sage piece of advice means creating a path forward that includes both hard work and enjoyment. How exactly is this done? By making a list of New Year’s journeys rather than resolutions, we begin to mark our success, not by the end goal, by instead by each step that we take along the road to our dreams.
3 Keys to Making 2021 a Healthy Journey Towards Success
#1 Compile a ‘To Learn’ List
By putting our focus on learning, we can begin to shake off the idea that we ‘must’ meet our goals, and instead become like a child again. Children are in awe of all there is to know and see, and dive into each new learning experience with a true sense of joy. They also make sure to share their creations and ideas with anyone and everyone who will listen.
This ‘joie de vivre’ that kids display actually holds some keys to unlocking the mystery of success. For instance, research has shown that having a social support network to share our progress with and learn from helps increase our ability to achieve our goals. And learning itself helps us feel better about ourselves. It also creates a stronger ability to grasp concepts faster: developing new skills actually increases the myelin sheath in our brains. This is akin to getting an ‘intelligence’ boost because a thicker myelin sheath equals faster firing of the electrical signals that help us understand and retain ideas.
“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”
#2 Brainstorm Small Action Steps
Focusing all our attention on what we do want to see happen, rather than what we don’t currently like about our life, is another great way to accelerate our dreams forward. This is because our brain’s subconscious circuitry becomes wired to ‘auto-generate’ conscious thoughts and ideas based on our beliefs. Brainstorming a list of small action steps we can take that help shift our beliefs to better match our new goals can ensure that both our conscious and subconscious thoughts are working in our favor.
The added benefit to setting small, actionable goals is that it has actually been shown to make us feel happier. One recent study of participants who were tasked with a social goal found that those who broke their assignment down into mini-steps felt a greater sense of personal accomplishment and joy than those who didn’t, even though both had achieved the same objective. It seems that we humans are just ‘wired’ to enjoy each step of life’s journey!
Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”
#3 Remember Your Rewards
When kids share their accomplishments with you, they do so in part because they are seeking compliments and accolades. They understand that, while their new goal may have been fun, it also required some focus and hard work. As an adult, we can provide ourselves with our own accolades in the form of rewards for a job well done. The benefit of doing this is that our mind is actually much better at creating a habit when a healthy reward is thrown into the mix.
Heart-centered research has also revealed that showing ourselves appreciation is one of the best ways to ensure that we stay consistent and motivated as we work towards our goals. Self-care is a favorite reward system for many people because it helps us relax and enjoy ourselves while also assisting with balancing us back to an optimal state of wellness. Whether we are enjoying a healing massage, a warm cup of hot cocoa by the fire, or a timeout to meditate, we are helping to boost our endorphins and release the stress that comes along with growth and self-mastery, so that we can revel in the process of becoming a better version of ourselves.
“Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.”
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