By: Megan Plevniak

Have you ever felt like your life is stuck in a never-ending cycle with nothing to look forward to? Are you rolling out of bed each morning just to jump into the same old grind of work, school, or boring chores, only to repeat it all the next day? Fitzhugh Dodson once said, “without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” In this article, I would like to address the significance of setting plans, goals, and cultivating ambition. 

What drives you to get out of bed each day? What motivates you to keep moving forward? Numerous people across the globe have dreams and aspirations. A few common goals people have include shedding some pounds, getting in shape, landing a job promotion, picking up a new skill, earning a degree in their area of expertise, launching a new career or hobby, getting married, starting a family, traveling, and a whole lot more. A vision or a goal starts with you. Ask yourself, what makes you happy? What are your dreams? You’re the only person who can turn your dreams into reality and truly live your best life. Life is short, so make the most of it. 

When the end of the year starts approaching, people begin to contemplate their New Year’s resolutions. A recent survey found that around 40 percent of people set New Year’s resolutions, but only 9 percent keep them, while a staggering 80 percent do not succeed. Although New Year’s resolutions are important, establishing both short-term and long-term goals in your life are the most significant.

The key element in achieving your goals is finding motivation. What motivates you; what inspires you? It may refer to an individual of significance in your life, such as family members, friends, significant other, educators, motivational speakers, influencers, and others. Many individuals struggle to find motivation in their lives, primarily because of mental barriers, anxiety, depression, and various other influences. This can be an easy fix. It starts with you! You have to be willing to make the necessary changes in your life and when you do; the opportunities are endless.

So, you possess goals or a concept, but you’re uncertain where to begin. One way to get your ideas and goals to fruition is by creating a vision board. A vision board is a collage of images and words representing a person’s wishes or goals, intended to serve as inspiration or motivation. Start by defining your vision—what you want to achieve. Next, select a theme and collect some images. Once you have your images and words, arrange them on your board, and then display it thoughtfully. Identify a location that captures your attention on a daily basis; that way, it will be hard to overlook it. The purpose of a vision board extends beyond mere inspiration; by viewing it daily, it fosters ongoing motivation.

Another profound way of enhancing motivation to achieve your goals is through journaling. Numerous individuals utilize journaling as a means of expressing their thoughts on paper which serves as a therapeutic outlet. This can also be beneficial for articulating both short-term and long-term goals. You can kick things off by putting your goals and ideas on paper. Create a timeline for when you want to achieve these goals, and to boost your motivation, consider noting down positive affirmations or rewards.

By adhering to these steps, you will be making significant progress toward achieving your goals before you know it. Why wait until New Year’s to implement your goals? A year from now, you may wish you had started today.