January is the perfect time to reflect on goal setting. Setting a goal is very different than making a New Year’s resolution. Resolutions are often created out of what we think we are “supposed” to accomplish. Successful goal setting is not about what we “should” do or what we are “supposed” to do but rather what we truly want to accomplish. This is based on our true values. How successful we are at achieving our goals is directly linked to how much we truly want what accomplishing the goal will bring into our lives. This is because goal achievement requires sacrifice.

Do we want the goal more than we want what we need to sacrifice to achieve it? The answer to this question is central to goal achievement. Another central question to ask yourself is, how much am I willing to sacrifice to achieve my goal? Weight loss is a good example. To lose weight is the most common New Year’s resolution and also one of the resolutions with the lowest success rate. This is because most people set the goal without reflecting on why they want to lose weight. What will the weight loss give them, and how much they are willing to sacrifice to achieve their goal? Reflecting on what you want and then creating a goal ensures that your goal will give you the desired outcome. For example, losing weight does not always result in being more desirable. Our weight does not relate to our value. People who want to lose weight for themselves are more successful than people who want to lose weight to change how people perceive them. This is true for any goal. If you are working toward a goal to please yourself, you will be more successful than if you are working on a goal to please others. Take the time to reflect on what you truly want and then set the goal to achieve it.