A New Year's Reflection

As I've mentioned before, I'm not a fan of New Year's resolutions.  I'm more a proponent of setting goals and working on changing things throughout the year rather than picking one day as the start to focus on self-improvement.  I feel the same way about Valentine's Day.  Why should one arbitrary day be a celebration of love?  Everyday should feel like Valentine's Day.  But I digress.

Whether you're a fan of resolutions or not, the New Year does give us a chance to reflect on the previous year and think about future possibilities.  But before you set out to change your life, you first need to figure out what you want to accomplish.  Goals are our designs for the future.  Here's a link to a great blog on 6 reasons why goals are important.

Once you figure out your goals, the next step is to figure out how you're going to make it happen.  In a previous post, I've discussed SMART goal setting.  SMART goals are ones that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.    Having a goal without having a specific plan of action is like trying to play a sport without having a game plan.  You might have some luck and happen to score occasionally, but you're success is going to be limited.  To quote Wayne Gretzky: "A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be." A plan of action ensures that you're actively working toward living your best life rather than letting the days slip on by. 

Besides SMART goal setting, being held accountable also helps to achieve success.  Having someone monitor your progress and provide support can be the key to keeping you on track.  I'm a big fan of seeking out coaches/mentors in all areas of my life as I find that it helps me take my goals to the next level.

Here is my "deep thought" by Ralph Waldo Emerson to start off 2011 with:

No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself.

Don't let yourself get in the way of living your best life.  But that doesn't mean you have to go it alone.  I'm always here to help you on your journey to use nutrition to look good, feel better, and perform at your best.