18 DEC 2023 · he clock strikes midnight. Fireworks burst through the sky as the calendar clicks over to a fresh start. It's January 1st – the symbolic opening of a newly untouched 365 days brimming with potential. New Year's Day represents possibility. A clean slate. A chance to let go of the past's disappointments to realign with our highest hopes and boldest dreams. Even the air feels thicker with opportunity in those first few days of January. Friends cheerily ask "What's your New Year's resolution?" Strangers in elevator lines chuckle about tackling ambitious self-improvement goals. Health clubs tempt passersby with discount memberships and fresh start specials. The mainstream media bombards us with articles about trying trendy new diets, reinventing stale careers, signing up for online classes, or finally booking those exotic vacations collecting dust on our vision boards. In other words, New Year's has become shorthand for ambitious personal growth efforts. It's the unofficial pep rally kicking off 12 months to become bigger, better, brighter. But by February, much of that fiery motivation has fizzled. Gym signups drop off as sore muscles and schedule conflicts kick in. Fad diets get abandoned after the first inevitable slip-up. Purchased online course materials gather (virtual) dust unaware of how to practically apply so much theory and information. Soon New Year's resolutions get mocked as an exercise in futility – 98% failure rate and all that. Come December, we scoff about having given up on our unreasonable resolutions by January 15th as we raise a glass toward 2024's reset button. But what if it didn't have to be this way? What if instead of keeping things surface level or sabotaging ourselves through perfectionism, we approached New Year's resolutions as an opportunity for authentic Growth – sustainably unleashing our latent potential through the power of intentional living? Let's explore how to transform scattered hopes into focused breakthroughs by... - Getting crystal clear on your "why" - Setting intentional goals (instead of rigid resolutions) - Maintaining motivation through accountability - Overcoming inevitable obstacles - Making mini-wins accumulate Follow this blueprint for a resolved, revolutionized 2023! The only limits are those we set for ourselves, so set that bar sky-high! Part I: Discovering Your "Why" – Connect Goals to Deeper Purpose We've all seen (or been) the parody – excitedly making elaborate New Year's resolutions on January 1st that barely survive the first failed stint on the treadmill by January 10th. This cycle repeats each year because we often grab goals randomly without doing the soul-searching to connect those steps to an overarching vision. We satisfy surface wishes (lose 15 pounds! Finally try skydiving!) without aligning activities to identity and purpose. It's like setting off on an ambitious cross-country road trip without locking in concretely where we want the destination to be. After the initial thrill wears off, we're likely to wind up lost in rural backroads or stuck in soul-sucking traffic jams. That's why goal-setting experts emphasize discovering your "why" before determining the "what" and "how." Your why = the deeper purpose and burning desire fueling your ambition. It's the pull from the future self beckoning your present self to take tangible action steps toward becoming. Without clarity on this underlying why, goals feel like just going through hollow motions divorced from inner wisdom and direction. They remain New Year's resolutions in the superficial sense – hastily made proclamations created external to who you really are. That breeds wishy-washy commitment. As soon as distraction, doubt or discomfort show up, we abandon ship to zone out on social media or reality TV. After all, if the goal isn't connected to personal meaning, why endure struggle towards some arbitrary externally imposed milestone? On the flip side, when you clearly know your why, you tap into an infinite wellspring of motivation and persistence. Connecting goals to self-actualization makes the achievement intrinsically satisfying regardless of external validation. Your ambition links to identity and integrity. So spend time in self-inquiry to get clear on your unique why underpinning aspirational 2023 goals. Dig beneath the surface wishes to find the jewel of wisdom buried in your soul. Ask illuminating questions like: What vision feels exciting and enlivening to me? What possibilities spark childlike curiosity and wonder? What would catalyze my creativity, courage, and empowerment? What outcomes would stretch my capacities while aligning to purpose? How might this goal positively impact my relationships or community? What legacy would I be proud to leave behind through pursuing this milestone? Once you unearth that driving purpose, suddenly New Year's resolutions transform from randomly ticking mundane to-do lists to profound promises you make your future self. Goals gain soul traction pulling you unstoppably toward your highest expression. So urge yourself beyond cultural cliches about wanting to merely lose weight or save money this year. What vocational liberation, distinctive creative impact, fearless self-expression, or radical self-acceptance most magnetizes your spirit when you visualize achieving it 12 months from now? Mine your why so deeply that crystallizing intentions feel like destiny unfolding - the irresistible next step toward embodying your soul's boldest vision. Therein lies the secret sauce for making New Year's resolutions stick! Thanks for listening to Quiet Please. Remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts.

18 DEC 2023 · Alright, so you've reflected on your driving why to connect resolutions to overarching life purpose and vision. The next step is setting intentional goals manifesting that motivating purpose, which sustains you through discomfort as you stretch toward actualizing your potential. What's the difference between goals and resolutions? Resolutions connote rigid checklists imposed through sheer white-knuckled willpower. This breeds self-judgment when (really, if) our human fragility causes us to stumble. Goals instead suggest navigating toward a magnetic North Star vision that pulls us forward through life's nonlinear twists and turns. Striving for specific tangible goals puts stakes in the ground creating accountability to support actual follow-through. Yet grace abounds for however the path meanders in service of the ultimate vision catalyzing our growth. This means letting go of perfectionistic all-or-nothing thinking that derails us. Progress over perfection allows curiosity, flexibility and even playfulness with stumbling blocks that arise. Partnership with life's organic rhythms makes achievement sustainable long-term. Here are best practices for setting powerful intentions as North Star goals stretch you toward new heights while honoring your holistic wellbeing. Determine SMARTER goals that are: Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-bound Engaging Rewarding And most imperatively, stay connected to the underlying spiritual R – Meaningful Purpose that serves your unique life's journey toward awakened potential. Let's break this down further: Specific: Get ultra clear and precise in defining milestone markers of success. Vagueness breeds ambivalence so laser focus intention. Measurable: Build objective metrics allowing you to tangibly track progress made. Quantify the qualitative wherever possible. Achievable: Set bold but realistic goals based on the current baseline that incrementally moveability. Bite off more than you can chew then chew vigorously! Relevant: Goals must align closely to core motivations and values underpinning your "why” uncovered above. Don't lose sight of North Star. Time-bound: Assign defined timelines creating checkpoints for completion and celebrating wins. Divide goals into digestible monthly, quarterly and yearly benchmarks. Engaging: Craft goals eliciting curiosity, creativity and intrinsic motivation. Boredem bleeds commitment so keep it spicy! Rewarding: Embed frequent feel-good wins that sustain momentum. Enjoy tangible reinforcement you're on the right track. And never forget the spiritual aspect - connection to personal growth and purpose beyond ego. Create goals curated just for your unique soul evolution. Let the intentions set you not limit you. This entire process invites clarity while staying receptive to inner wisdom adjusting course as needed. Hold goals lightly yet steadfastly. Part III: Build in Accountability for Consistent Action You've unearthed your soulful "why" purpose fueling aspirational 2023 goals. You've refined bold intentions through the SMARTER formula accounting for sustainability. This firm foundation prevents resolutions from fading by February. Yet achieving ambitious growth still requires structure promoting consistent action that chips away at elevated aspirations. The bridge carrying you from Point A's intentions to Point Z's manifestations is good old-fashioned accountability. Left alone with unlimited freedom but no oversight, we often lose motivation when the temptation for distraction arises. Goal achievement thus benefits from a friendly external authority steadying our hand upon the plow even when feeling weak or overwhelmed. Accountability partners, coaches, and even automated tracking apps can serve this role – not tyrannically but as a stabilizing sounding board. They ground us in commitment when the fickleness of moods, energy levels, and circumstantial chaos might derail discipline. Here are proven strategies for proactively building personal accountability and supporting your resolve: Share Goals Publicly – Social expectation creates healthy pressure when others witness your intentions. Recruit Goal Buddies – Find like-minded comrades working towards parallel outcomes. Check-in on joint progress. Enlist Encouraging Cheerleaders – They believe in your audacious goals even when you doubt yourself. Hire Coaches or Mentors – Their expert guidance lends outside objectivity. Use Habit Tracking Apps – Modern tech offers customized metrics monitoring. Schedule Rewards Ceremonies – Attach frequent positive reinforcement to progressive milestones. Join Training Programs or Communities – Built-in feedback loops and benchmarking. Post Progress Pictures Publicly – Visible evidence feeds motivation through social proof. Leverage Gamification Strategies – Levels, points and friendly competition taps playfulness. We all need trusted partners holding us accountable when distraction sabotages discipline. So proactively assemble your personal growth squad to cheerlead your 2023 intentions into reality! Part IV: Expect (and Embrace!) Obstacles as Opportunity Alright, you've unearthed your purposeful "why," crafted SMARTER goals manifesting that vision, and built personal accountability systems to ensure consistent action. You're locked, loaded and ready to level up 2023! What could possibly go wrong? Well, just about everything! We can laugh but it's true. No growth journey worth its salt follows a straight line. The path toward awakened potential inevitably brings us face to face with inner demons, daily disruptions and formidable obstacles exposing our limits. Yet here's the paradox: if realized goals came easily they would remain shallow promises. True transformation occurs by working through resistance. As iconic thought leader Joseph Campbell described, the hero's journey follows the iconic arc of departure, struggle and return with boon. So when formidable challenges arise, recognize this as a glorious opportunity to discover your heroic moxie within! Each difficulty building mental, emotional and spiritual muscle ultimately fuels forward expansion. When not if obstacles arise, here are constructive perspectives to embrace: - I get to upgrade my grit and resilience through this. - What part of my identity or skillset needs leveling up? - Everything unfolding for me, not to me so trust timing.