RESOLUTIONS PART 2: LARGE & SMALL GOALS

Set a large goal with smaller, more easily achievable goals along the way. A large goal serves as an over-arching direction that you want to head in, while the smaller goals will help serve as road markers to continue to motivate us and remind us that we are, in fact, on the right path. Without the small, more readily achievable goals set along the way, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by the daunting task of the larger goal. This can lead to frustration, paralysis and ultimately giving up on the goal altogether when we feel that we haven't made enough progress towards the larger goal. This is usually coupled with a sense of resentment towards ourselves or others that may have served as obstacles for us along the way.

Coupling the larger goal with the smaller intermediate goals is an effective way to keep us in a healthy mindset. It gives us perspective and drive. We need reminders of why we are doing what we are doing when the challenges of everyday life loom large, and we can be buoyed by the small victories that we can celebrate daily.

An example of this might be setting a larger goal of "I want to run a marathon." And the smaller goal of "I will go for a 5-minute walk today." The larger goal of being being able to run a particular distance can serve as an overarching motivator and reminder of why we are going for the walk. And the smaller goals of walking will help us stay grounded in the activity and prevent us from getting overwhelmed by this potentially Herculean task.