As we pen down our things-to-do or map out our activities, let us consider these 3 Rs as a guide for better days ahead.

Regrets

Looking back, were there things we did that made us say, “Why did I do that?” Or were there things we wanted to accomplish that we failed to do? Regrets or feelings of remorse over the could-have-beens can motivate us in setting goals so we can step up a rung or two in our ladder of progress. We can finally do that diet and exercise program we always wanted to engage in. Reach out to an estranged family or friend. Stop a bad habit. The things that made us feel frustrated can increase our desire to do better. Instead of being a stumbling block, let us make our regrets a driving force and strive to be better versions of ourselves.

Repentance

The process of repentance starts with a feeling of regret but it doesn’t stop there. In setting goals, let us assess how we can apply the teachings of Jesus Christ and heed his invitations to be more like Him. Let us look at the process as a holistic approach to increase “in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Completing the process means to correct the wrongs we did and do the things we omitted. We may have started the process but have not really finished it. Setting goals to really go through the whole process can give us a better perspective as to what limited our desire to fully repent and overcome those things.

It can help to ask ourselves, “Have I returned what I took?” May it be a thing or a compliment or gratitude withheld from someone who deserves it. “Have I confessed to what I did wrong or failed to do? Or am I still delaying or justifying?”

Readiness to Show Appreciation

Let us learn to look around and recognize how blessed we are. We have a lot to be grateful for! In his October 2012 General Conference address, President Deiter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “Brothers and sisters, no matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we see and appreciate it.”

Setting goals based on an attitude of gratitude will go a long way. It will help us cherish the things that matter most like family, friends, values, faith, and love for our fellowmen. It will give more meaning to our daily to-do list. We can make sure that we do something to show our love and appreciation for the things that are most important to us. It will serve as an inner compass to put first things first. If our goal is to be happy then being grateful is a good starting point. This is a jumpstart to a life of positivity!

As we look forward to what is in store for us, let us exercise our God-given agency to make better choices. Let us consider the regrets we had and learn from them. May we fully repent of our wrongdoings and resolve to be better. Increase our ability to appreciate the blessings that are ours and spend more time and effort on the most important things. With these in mind, we can always have a bright hope for better tomorrows.

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Some of the many principles often used to achieve goals would be:

• The acronym SMART, and its different variations:
  • S – specific, significant, stretching
  • M – measurable, meaningful, motivational
  • A – agreed upon, attainable, achievable, acceptable, action-oriented
  • R – realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding, results-oriented
  • T – time-based, time-bound, timely, tangible, trackable
• First, we set goals, then we make plans
• Have a vision
• “The dullest pencil is better than the sharpest memory”
  • This quote explains why we need to write our vision, goals, and plans and post them where we can see them

Although we already know these principles, why does it seem like we are not achieving our goals? Or… are we really not?

Quentin L. Cook, a Mormon ecclesiastical leader shared the rules he learned from his father:

1. We needed to have worthwhile goals.
2. We could change our goals at any time.
3. We had to diligently work towards whatever goal we chose.

Looking back on the past year and the goals you had set, ask yourself the following questions: Are my goals worthwhile? Am I realistic with my goals and do I adjust them when necessary? Did I work diligently to reach them? If most of your answers are yes and still you feel like you have not achieved your goal, then the following principles can help you work on your goals for this year.

Achieving Your Goals

A for Accountability and Adjustment

When we are accountable, we are responsible for our actions and our decisions. Part of accountability is evaluating our progress in achieving our goals. Are we able to do them? If yes, how often? Or how much improvement did we achieve? If we are not able to accomplish them, think of the challenges we have had.
You can create your own indicator of measurement. This indicator depends on the type of goals you have set and how long it will take to reach them. For instance, it could be a self-report of a yes/no answer for whether the goals are achieved or not. It could also be a numerical figure such as the amount of money saved or pounds lost. You can customize your own evaluation. You can do it weekly, monthly or yearly. It depends on the time-table of your desired goals and plans. It is also highly encouraged to have a person to whom you can report your progress: your spouse, your parents, your friends, or whoever you feel comfortable sharing your goals with.

And, finally adjusting your goals and plans. After evaluating your goals be honest with yourself and ask if it is realistic. If you feel like you need to make some adjustments with frequency or with time, do so. On the other hand, if you feel like your goal is too easy, adjust it so you will be able to stretch yourself. The goals we set help us become who we want to be so it is very important to allow us to succeed.

B for Becoming Aware of Distractions

Working towards a goal is challenging yet it still should be fun. Achieving our goals should help us be happy with ourselves and not yet achieving them should motivate us more instead of discouraging us. Quentin L. Cook shared three distractions that keep us from becoming happy.

1. Distractions which keep us from doing what we ought to do
2. The magnification of small imperfections
3. Unfavorable comparisons with others

Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to modify behavior. As your efforts produce favorable results, it will encourage you to continue towards your goal. Sometimes our measurement of our success is founded on the acknowledgment we get from other people or worse our comparison of ourselves to them. This is not wrong but make sure that you know how to positively reward and commend yourself for your efforts. The principle out of small things, great things are accomplished, should be your gauge in knowing if you are achieving your goals.

C for Consistency and Commitment

Ultimately, feeling successful comes through consistency. Patience indeed is a virtue. We need to work hard even when we do not see an obvious result of our efforts and patiently wait for the outcome. For a habit to be developed, it should be done for at least 18-21 days, but may take longer depending on the goal you wish to achieve. When you are committed to your goals you will do everything to achieve them, even when oppositions come your way.

So this year, we hope that your new year’s resolution would not be a mere yearly repetition of goals and plans that are never achieved and accomplished. It is only the beginning of the year… We still have a long way to go!  Remember the ABCs to achieving your goals. Your success will be determined by your vision of yourself and your positive attitude in life.

Try and try until we succeed!

References:

SMART Goals
Quentin L. Cook’s article “Rejoice!”

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Ask for God’s guidance

Seeking what God wants us to accomplish helps us to be directed to things that will help us become better and more like our Savior Jesus Christ. Seeking God’s counsel on the goals we set ensures that we are not setting goals for naught, and that the goals we want to achieve are worthwhile. God will help us succeed as long as our desires are in harmony with what He wants us to achieve.
 

The shorter the list, the better

Some of us want to achieve as many goals as we can, which is not a bad thing at all. But the problem of having too many goals is that we lose focus on what we really want to achieve the most. Our attention and energy are divided in too many directions. This may cause exhaustion and disorientation that might lead to demotivation since every goal seem so far to achieve. Setting a few goals will give us more time to focus on each, thus accelerating progress and the chances of achieving them. Having only a few spots for our goals also eliminates the ones that do not really add value to our lives.
 

Break goals into small chunks

Some goals are big which makes comparing where we are now to where we want to be in the future overwhelming. This feeling comes from seeing the big goal as one piece on the checklist. Much like when our goal is to run a 26-mile marathon when we haven’t yet gone farther than 2 miles at a time. Of course, the thought can be overwhelming. But a big goal such as this does not happen all at once. This seemingly overwhelming goal becomes achievable if we break it into small chunks—chunks that can be achievable daily or weekly. Each mini-goal could be running a half-mile more than we did yesterday. This way, the goal is not impossible to achieve because we are doing it a half-mile at a time.
 

Writing our goals down is not enough; we must decide to make it happen

Setting goals is not just about having a list of things we wish to achieve; it’s about deciding to achieve our them no matter what happens. It’s about having the conviction that failing to succeed is not an option. It’s about sticking to them no matter how tough they can get. When we give in to thoughts that it is okay to not achieve them because we can always try next time, the possibility of slipping increases. We must give our best and go all out.
 

Measure progress

President Monson once shared, “When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.” When we set our goals, we must make sure that we can measure our progress. Knowing how far we’ve gone will motivate us to work harder. Charting our progress also allows us to improve the areas where we are sliding backwards.

2017 is a fresh new start for all of us. Let’s put our best foot forward and give our best efforts to achieve our goals.

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