Why I Say Goals, not Resolutions

'Tis the season for New Year's Resolutions... and believe it or not, I stopped making New Year's Resolutions years ago. There are a few reasons for this but the main reason is that the word resolution does not resonate with me like the word goals does.

When I hear or say the word resolution I think of it similar to transformation. Like I need to change a behavior to create a better or different one. That's fine, but I believe I should always be striving to grow and rid myself of bad habits. The word goals, to me, suggests that I already have a base knowledge or baseline point to work from.

Let me give you an example if you're a little lost here... Weightloss. Weightloss is a common New Year's Resolution, but it can also be a goal. When I say my resolution is to lose weight, it almost feels like I haven't been doing anything synonymous with living a healthy lifestyle and I want to start today, January 1st. When I say I have a goal to lose x pounds or reach a particular dress and pant size, then it becomes less about looking backward to more forward and more about just moving forward to reach that goal.

This is NOT going to be the same for everyone! I am sharing these merely because I want to point out the importance of language in goal and resolution setting. If you notice that you're not reaching the goals you've set for yourself, consider looking at the language you're using. Does it resonate with you? Does it feel strong and intentional or weak and wishy-washy? Language is a major key to success because it's how we think, grow and move about the world.

If me saying I use the word goal instead of resolution hit home to you, try setting goals for 2020, instead of resolutions and see how it changes your overall progress throughout the year!