Are You Ready—Really?

January 29, 2019

So, how are those 2019 resolutions coming along? Making progress? If your objectives have stalled, don’t be hard on yourself. Realizing goals takes more than a desire for them. It takes a readiness to be open to change, trust in the process and courage to be uncomfortable, at least for a while.

Achieving aims often requires moving from conventional practices to taking on new ways of seeing and doing things, including different actions, habits and even beliefs. For lots of us, that’s fine for the short term. Many people are happy and excited to try something new for a little while, especially if it’s aimed at getting them closer to a wanted objective. But a different way of doing things over the long-haul? That’s something else, even if it’s for a highly coveted goal.

Change can be hard; scary, even. Embracing new practices often requires a determined effort and sustained belief that desired results will follow, both of which demand the ability to push doubt and discomfort aside for sustained periods while focusing on wanted objectives. That’s not easy. Add to that the time and effort it takes for some goals to simmer before they’re realized, and it’s plain to see why people often revert to their comfortable practices, beliefs and habits—many of which stand in the way of their goals—before their objectives are reached.

Yet finding ways to get past limiting thoughts and routines is important when it comes to meeting new goals, whether they’re personal or business-related. Consider brainworks’ findings on neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to experience, learn and adapt—which can go a long way in supporting one’s ability to adopt new thoughts and behaviors: “With every repetition of a thought or emotion, we reinforce a neural pathway and with each new thought, we begin to create a new way of being. These small changes, frequently enough repeated, lead to changes in how our brains work.”

That’s encouraging. Here’s a tip: before heading into something new, get ready and commit to the process. Fully understand that the endeavor will require new practices and be confident in them. Align with people and businesses that you trust and who can help you reach your goals, whether your associates are personal allies, professional consultants, business partners, trade or community organizations or other advocates. Do your due diligence, connect with reliable key supporters and move forward.

Remember, also, that few worthwhile goals are achieved quickly, so be patient with the process. Heed expert advice and fully partner with your chosen advocates. Are you being counseled to reduce stress with regular workouts? Join a gym. Are you being advised to boost your company’s profile by joining a trade organization, engaging with your audience on social media, crafting a thought-leadership piece to share? Go for it! After all, you’ve aligned with your supporters for good reasons. Why hamper your advancement by skirting their counsel? Don’t be turned-around by past practices because they feel comfortable. They didn’t work before and aren’t going to work now. If you want something different from what you have, start behaving differently. Ready? Set? Go, go, go!

Need more to get you going? Here are a few podcasts recommended by Impact’s finest for tips on making changes and reaching goals:

• Rise podcast by Rachel Hollis
• The Tony Robbins Podcast
• We Study Billionaires – The Investors Podcast

And here are a few books:

• Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting: The Astonishing Power of Feelings  by Lynn Grabhorn
• Smarter, Faster, Better by Charles Duhigg
• The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy