Making and keeping commitments

"When you make a commitment you create hope. 

When you keep a commitment you create trust." 

John Maxwell 

I had a conversation with a friend about preparing to set goals for 2021. I told her I wasn't ready to start that process because I was about to reach a major fitness goal. After that conversation, I looked for my 2020 goals, and for the life of me, I couldn't find them.

Singing at church recently.

The fact is that once I simplified my goals a few years ago, they all look similar. I just can't find my 2020 goals for some reason. I do know I accomplished a lot of them. How did you do with your 2020 goals? Did you keep them, forgot about them, or modified them? 

We can all blame 2020 for not achieving our goals but we won't do that. I will tell you that in 2020, I modified my goals. I also found the clarity of mind to get the accountability needed to reach my health goals.

Modifying my goals allowed me to have something to look forward to. In normal circumstances, my goals would stretch me. In 2020, life stretched all of us. I needed my goals to be doable. I needed them to add to my life, not subtract. 

One goal I did not modify was weight loss related. Losing weight helped me better face the challenges I had this year. I found weekly accountability (via zoom) to help me with this goal. I'm so glad I decided to persist and do the hard work of losing weight. It was difficult but it would have been infinitely more challenging to gain weight and regress in that vital area. Today, I am 13 lbs leaner than I was last year. Every effort was completely worth it.

I admit I don't recommend trying to pursue a challenging goal during a global pandemic. Unless it is the appropriate time to do it.

I'm not sure if you are considering reviewing your goals for 2020. Even if it is painful, do it. The next step is to set goals for 2021. Don't let discouragement, memories from 2020, or anything else stop you from dreaming of better days. 

Writing your goals is like making a commitment. As John Maxwell said, "When you make a commitment you create hope. When you keep a commitment you create trust." Let's create trust in 2021 friends.