goals – Everyday is an Interview

Force the Future #1

Too often, people tell me they are scared of what the future will offer them. Maybe they will get an awful disease; they will not find the “one” to spend the rest of their lives with; they will not reach their goals; they will not be able to afford the future they want; they will not get into the school of their dreams, etc. These concerns are legitimate, but worrying about the future will not help you thrive and survive. To have a better chance of succeeding in the future, you must start those habits today that will influence your future most. I term this idea as Force the Future.

How do you force the future? The solution is easy: develop those habits and skills today that will force the future. Forcing the future does not mean you will get everything you want, but it does mean you have more say in influencing your future successes.

Case in point, if you are worried about living your future life as a fat person, spend the time now to develop healthy eating habits. If you are worried about financial security, start putting money (if you already do, add more) aside in an interest-bearing investment. If you are concerned about the effects of a bad habit you have, start doing your research on the habit to find the best strategies for stopping it before it influences your future. None of these guarantees success, but it forces your future to work harder to overcome the foundations you have laid for it.

#Just Be Better

# Stay Strong, Stay Healthy

I hope you are having a safe and happy holiday season.

This is the time I start hearing people talk about resolutions. The number of people discussing resolutions beginning on the New Year is exhausting. I do not waste my time engaging in these conversations. If someone wants to change right now, I will engage and support them. I have a workout partner who wants to be a black belt by the end of 2024. This person is not unhappy that they are “only” a brown belt, but they want to build on their mastery and understanding of Taekwondo.

I am not trying to be a ”Scrooge” to others who do not understand that postponing change is a predictor of falling short of one’s goals. I struggle with engaging with those who write resolutions based on their unhappiness. They develop goals mired in negativity. Establishing goals on a negative is another method to set yourself up for failure.

I hardly hear people speak about setting resolutions based on a good thing they want to improve. I want to listen to people develop their resolutions on growth, not unhappiness. Resolutions from a positive perspective are more likely to succeed. For example, “I want to lose another 10 pounds.” is based on negativity. It includes the word lose and implies that one is fat. It does not focus on anything they are doing well. Another way to state this goal is to say, “I want to be 10 pounds lighter so I can fit into my size 32 jeans.” This statement is based on two goals: 10 pounds lighter and 32” waste. This statement is a much better design. They want to build on the positive things they have accomplished and be more successful. You cannot base your future on positive results when you are mired in a negative present and hope to be successful.

If you are making a resolution, base it on positive things. Take what you are doing and look to make it better. Base the resolution on positive outcomes and refuse to use any negatives in the development process or the final statement. You are doing things well and want to improve on them, which is the best perspective.

Send me your goals. I would be happy to provide feedback.

Happy New Year, and Good Luck with your Goals!!

Just Be Better

Stay Healthy, Stay Strong.