Normally the beginning of the year is filled with teary-eyed resolution makers holding one hand to heart, ready to change their lives and the world. By February you can barely remember half you goals and when June comes around you are happily coasting along without a care. December finds us feeling like failures but resolve to change next year.  So how will next year be different from this year? The only way for that to happen is to do something different. That is – achieve what you set out to! See this as a gentle reminder. Nearly half of the year has gone past now.  It is not too late to achieve what you set out to. Here are my top 3 ways to stick with things.

Keep goals front of mind

Take a leaf out of Romans 12:2. This verse speaks of transforming our minds through renewing our minds. Transform your mind by keeping things front of mind. This ensures that you pay attention to them. Reading about a subject matter regularly is one way you can achieve this. Try reading books, sprawling the internet for inspiration or subscribe to a blog.

Accountability partners

In Exodus 17 we come across the story of Israel battling the Amalekites. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites started winning. As Moses grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, one on the other–so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  I meet with a group of ladies every 6 weeks or so.  Their job is precisely that of Aaron and Hur. They keep my hands up when I am too tired or have lost all motivation to achieve my goals or just keep my life on track. Even the very thought of going to a meeting is enough to spur me into action. Our meeting dates are set up for the year so there are few opportunities for excuses.  Together with my Mentors I have few chances to feel sorry for myself and not achieve anything.

Rewards

I reward myself for achieving smaller goals. For example if I have a health goal like I want to run a half marathon by the end of this year. I can divide that into smaller goals like I want to run a 10K without stopping by June this year. I can reward myself with a new pair of shoes or books for achieving the smaller goal and a spa day when I achieve the bigger goal. Ensure you have smaller more achievable goals that lead to the big goal and make a fuss about meeting the smaller goals too. Just acknowledging achievement helps motivate you.

Good luck and stay on track. How do you stay on track?