Whenever a new year comes ahead, it’s easy to say that we can face it so easily and without difficulty. Yes, we all have the capability to start the new year prepared and confident. But do you know where many people fail? Maintaining that preparation and confidence the entire year.

Approximately 70% of people fail to achieve the goals they set for themselves. When you realise that the majority of these goal-setting individuals strive for fairly attainable and short-term goals, it is indeed a wonder how the remaining 30% achieve their goals, while maintaining their confidence, even in times of difficulty and failure. What's their secret?

Why Do Many People Fail To Execute Their Plans And Achieve Their Goals Each New Year?

Many people are terrified that they might fail or, worse, that they might succeed. Therefore, they make little effort to achieve a goal. These people lack confidence in themselves and their abilities. They think that if they fail, everyone will insult them, and judge them, and they want to avoid disappointing others altogether. On the other hand, they believe that if they succeed, others will be jealous, and treat them differently.

Many individuals think that goal-setting simply entails writing down a goal, assigning a date for accomplishment, crossing off checkpoints as they happen, and then onto the next. This type of mindset impedes success because there is much more to a goal than doing something once and crossing it off your list.

Many people tend to start their year by setting unrealistic goals that are unattainable within a short period of time. Some people, on the other hand, have way too many goals and struggle to decide where to focus first. It's as if they're standing in front of a dart board, aiming at three different targets using one dart.

Many individuals already feel satisfied with their lives and are comfortable with exactly where they are. As a result, they don't discover other opportunities that are available or what better things they could accomplish. This can also impede any chance for growth and progress across various areas of their lives. 

These are some of the hindrances why so many people fail to start their new year with confidence and achieve their goals. 

However, if you think you are one of those people who failed to achieve their goals, don’t give up; now is the perfect time to get ready to start your new year with complete confidence and passion.

Organise a self-evaluation of your life in 2022. Take time to reflect on how the previous year worked for you. Consider what went well for you individually and what you would like to improve as the new year starts. List them down.

Ask yourself: what new skills or connections did you build that became the highlights of your year? What caused you to stress? What life lessons did you learn? A self-evaluation like this can help you in assessing the positives and negatives of the year that’s gone and set the tone for a successful new year ahead.

2. Clarify and Write Down Your Goals

Clarifying and jotting down your goals boosts your likelihood of achieving them. Describe your goal in specific terms and timeframes. For example, rather than setting generalised goals such as, "I will go on a diet starting January", you can set and write more specific goals such as, "I will go on a low-carb diet starting January 5 and only eat lean meats, fish, eggs, fruits, and leafy green vegetables. Then, I will go to the gym every Wednesday and Friday."

3. Act Towards Your Goals

If applicable, you can divide them into monthly goals. The more you break it down, the simpler it will be to achieve. There are two kinds of goals: short-term and long-term goals. Reaching a large number of short-term goals is usually the key to gradually attaining your long-term goals. Setting short-term goals and achieving them will give you the courage to tackle larger ones. You'll also feel more confident when dealing with day-to-day obstacles.

4. Don’t Forget to Celebrate Every Achievement, Whether Small or Big

Whenever you achieve a certain goal, take time to celebrate and appreciate those who helped you. Evaluate the experiences you had and the things you learned. Each time you celebrate a milestone, you may like to organise something that makes you feel special. It might be buying yourself a bouquet of flowers, treating yourself to a massage, an experience, a holiday - whatever feels most aligned to you, to recognise your own personal growth and success. The relationship you have with yourself is the most important one. Treat yourself well.

5. Surround Yourself With Goal-Oriented People

If you’re not already, start looking at those who are achieving their goals, ask them questions, and spend more time with them - those who know what they want and are prepared to strive for it. We are impacted by those we spend time with the most, so when you become focused on attaining what you want out of your life, you attract the right people who will become a part of the support system you need to help you in achieving your goals.

No doubt, you can start the new year with great confidence and maintain it by avoiding the circumstances that might hinder you from achieving your goals and by applying the systematic goal-setting process mentioned above.

2023 is just around the corner, so set your intention and make it a year full of wonderful, new experiences, deeper relationships, and a focus on achieving everything you desire.

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