Now that a New Year is upon us, what goals and resolutions have you made to achieve in 2019? You must first decide if you’re truly committed and open to the changes that are necessary to reach them. To take it a step further, I believe every goal or resolution should be planned and implemented incrementally. What short-term moves towards your goal do you have? What about intermediate and long-term goals? Granted, most of us have many lofty goals and resolutions at the beginning of the New Year. But, are you truly committed to sustaining your pursuit of them?
Most people view goals or dreams as simply that––a wonderful but unobtainable wish that couldn’t possibly come true. On a conscious level, they do this for for a number of reasons. Mainly, because they don’t feel worthy of living their highest ideals or goals. The very thought of pursuing and working towards something they really want frightens them. Unconsciously though, they’ve been conditioned by those closest to them that attaining that dream or goal is virtually impossible simply because they’ve allowed fear and doubt to chase them away from their pursuit. Nothing would please them more than for you to surrender all hope and forget about aiming higher in life. They’ve accepted and even embraced the mediocrity of a mundane existence. They’ve gotten comfortable and have even forced themselves to love it on some level. And sometimes, if you’re not careful, you’ll even talk yourself out of pursuing your dreams!
In order to make positive change in our lives, we must first be open to it. Fear and doubt should never be a part of your mindset. Choose faithfulness and fearlessness instead of a faithless and fearful life. You must believe that nothing’s impossible and any dream or goal is worthy of being brought to fruition. But, it can only occur if you add faith, effort, and determination to the mix. You must want it more than anything. Fear, doubt, and excuses mustn’t ever deter you from accomplishing your goal or making your dream real. Dreams and goals begin with a vision–it is your belief and effort that propels you towards reaching it.
Refuse to ever entertain any excuse that could dissuade your belief in it or your efforts towards it. Determination and drive must become your dream or goal’s engine, and your faith its fuel. A goal’s biggest hindrance can be all of the excuses and drawbacks we come up with and the limitations we place on ourselves. Even if you somehow fall short, you’ve still made progress. Start chasing your dreamiest goal today–don’t hesitate, and never doubt! Formulate a plan and execute it. Start short-term, stretch and climb into your intermediate goals, and eventually progress to going after what you want in the long-term. 2019 can be the beginning of a new mindset with renewed faith and determination. Claim and own your power while refusing to never again be victimized and held back by fear, doubt, and excuses!
Charles R. Butts Jr. 