It’s time to check in on those new years resolutions. How are you doing? By now it’s likely that you have, or will soon have, hit a few roadblocks, but don’t give up. If you haven’t set a resolution yet, it’s never too late. Each new year breathes a fresh start to take on life’s challenges, giving rise to the popularity of new years resolutions. At its root level, a New Year’s resolution is really just a goal, and goals can be set, worked towards, and achieved any time you set your mind to it. In this Weekend Word, we will discuss goals.
goal
ɡōl/
noun
plural noun: goals
- (in football, soccer, rugby, hockey, and some other games) a pair of posts linked by a crossbar and often with a net attached behind it, forming a space into or over which the ball has to be sent in order to score.
- the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.
By now, more than a third of the people who set New Year’s resolutions are likely no longer maintaining them (click here for more statistics). If you find yourself in this group, don’t give up. You will hit many roadblocks in the path of life, but take this advice from Confucius:
“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
Much like a goal in sports, a life goal does not change; and just like a sports team needs to adjust their strategies (plays) to reach the goal, sometimes you must adjust your strategies (actions) to meet your goal.
Our girls come to St. Elizabeth’s Girls Academy (SEGA) with many individual desires, but they all have one common goal: to gain independence and self-sustainability. SEGA helps these girls to achieve their goals by offering traditional and vocational training, but it is ultimately up to the girls to stay determined and never give up. No matter what roadblocks they may face.
The sense of accomplishment and empowerment you receive when you finally do achieve your goals is worth all the effort it takes to get there. I’ll leave you with this last thought:
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Henry David Thoreau
Love, peace and go after those goals!
Cristen
