Happy New Year y’all!! What a whirlwind. This past year has gone by in a BLINK of an eye and we’re already rolling into the new year. CRAZY! Here’s to a healthier, happier, more successful, and more fulfilling year in 2023.
I will say, I LOVE the idea of a fresh start. I feel like in just the past few days alone, because it’s a new year, I’m automatically in a different headspace. I feel like I have a clean slate mentally and have been more productive, more motivated, and all around just happier. All of the stress that the past year caused can be thrown out the door and we can focus on what’s in front of us. (Hopefully it’s good... Nah, not hopefully. It WILL be good. 🙂)
When entering a new year, I can’t say I’m a huge goal setter. Is that what you would have expected me to say??? It’s just that I think goals are hard for me because I feel like they have to be SO specific. It’s like “I will read one book a month” or “I will go to 20 new restaurants” or “I will go to the gym three times a week” etc. If you know me, you know I’ve never been too good with numbers. ;) It’s HARD for me.
I’d like to set goals for my career but it’s not like I can achieve just anything I want in my industry within a specific time. My career is based on other people's opinions of me. Is production going to keep or cut the dancers? Will there be any commercials filming in the area and even if there is, what look are they going for? It could not be my look! So it’s hard for me to say, “I want to film three commercials and perform on stage four times this year" because who knows if the industry will even provide those opportunities? The thing is, I work my ass off. I go to class and train. I stretch my body. I workout. I do everything I can to set myself up for success in the industry. HABITS that set me up for success. These training practices aren’t goals for me - it's just my everyday life. I’m doing everything I can to achieve my career “goals” but in the end, it’s not my decision whether or not I can accomplish them within a certain time frame. That’s why setting goals for my career is so hard.
I also think part of it in terms of goal setting is that I am a very self disciplined person. Why do you have to set a “goal” instead of just doing or creating a habit to achieve whatever “it” is? If I want to meet new people, I’m going to do it. If I want to join a soccer league, I’m going to do it. If I want to start singing lessons, I’m going to do it. If I want to take more acting classes, I’m going to do it. If I want to start working out more, I’m going to do it. I wouldn’t set these as my “goals” for the year if I wanted them to happen because I would just make them happen immediately. It’s just who I am.
Now, this is just my opinion and I realize not everyone is like me in this regard. I’m sharing this because if you aren’t a goal setter, don’t feel bad LOL. I’m the same exact way! But if you are, also don’t feel bad and feel offended by what I’m saying LOL!! My sister has set amazing goals for herself this year. Her goals are not the “standard” goals people set and are more about expanding her horizons. I feel like she always sets goals to challenge herself as a person and I’m jealous that she is so clear and concise on what she wants to accomplish. My mom also likes goals. I was just talking to her about goal setting and how I wanted to kick off the year with a blog post but was having a hard time because I’m not a big goal setter. She is different than me. She was saying how she likes goals with “specifics” because she likes having the accountability check list. She said she’s so all over the place (her words…not mine! lol) that she likes something that makes her accountable to follow through. Like one of her goals this year is to workout 300 out of 365 days this year. She likes keeping track of it in her calendar and “checking off the boxes.” She said without it, she would probably get bored or drawn to something else and go on some new tangent. So for her, specific goal setting works. For some people they need that, I guess, for me, it just isn’t as important. What can I say? Lol.
So if you’re like me, and not necessarily a specific goal setter, here are some thoughts/other motivating factors to take into the new year:
A fresh start. I’ve already mentioned this a little bit but clear your head. Whatever happened last year is out of sight out of mind. You have a whole new year ahead of you so take that how you will. Be open minded, send out good energy, and conquer!
Come up with a “theme” to your year. For example, instead of setting a specific goal, my uncle was a “Yes man” in 2022. Anything he didn’t really want to do or didn’t have the energy for, he decided to say “yes” to anyways. He ended up loving his year of yes and said it changed how he lived his life. Maybe you don’t need a specific goal…maybe just a theme to live the next year of your life to!
Creating a vision board. I think this is what inspires me more than goal setting. I like vision boards because it’s not necessarily specific as to exact numbers or dates. You pick out photos or quotes that will motivate, shape, and manifest for your life. Create a vision board of your dream life in 2023. What will your house look like? Where will you be in your career? Where will you be health wise? Will you travel? PUT IT ALL ON THERE! When you put those photos on the board, you are manifesting those things to come into your life. I’m going to make my vision board for 2023 within the next week or two and I’ll definitely share. This is my first time making one so I’m excited to see where it leads me.
Wherever you are at the beginning of this year, just remember the only person who can motivate you is YOU. Do what works best for you. Set goals, dream big, manifest, work hard. 2023 is a new year filled with endless possibilities. What are you going to do that sets you apart from your competitors? Take that as you will. :) Happy 2023!
Chloe, you are amazing!