Goal setting can work. A New Year’s resolution is essentially a goal. Therefore, a New Year’s resolution can work.  Hey, I’m a romantic hypothesizer.

As a moppet growing up in Los Angeles, I daydreamed constantly. I visualized playing at Dodger Stadium. I felt my right leg push off the inside corner of 1^st base, my spikes sinking into the rubber just slightly, the gentle spring of the bag propelling me toward second base. I didn’t realize it then, but that was the infancy stage of my setting a goal to play Major League Baseball. The fact that most of this daydreaming occurred in math class while gazing out the window and chewing on a pencil was only a minor detriment in my own life’s bigger picture.

Obviously, my boyhood dream wasn’t enough to manifest the desired outcome. There was and rarely is a guarantee of a result. You’ve been following the blog, so you’re versed on how often I mention process. By focusing on a goal, then putting a process in place to achieve it, we optimize for success. That process often includes small, actionable steps. From Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal via ideas.ted.com:

“People often get lost thinking they have to change everything all at once…But small changes can pave the way to bigger changes.” Ask yourself, what is the smallest thing I can do today that helps me reach my goal.

I’m not setting a New Year’s resolution because I hate titles like this. Frankly, I don’t need a date on the calendar to set a goal. However, I have a very specific mission to take a five minute break from work every hour to take a breath, look away from my computer, put my phone down and rest my eyes. I’m sure that may seem like an easy, achievable goal. To me, it feels very overwhelming. So rather than start with the whole enchilada, I will practice for 30 seconds, starting right now.

Alright, I’m back; 15 breaths, roughly 30 seconds. That was action; it was a small step, but I achieved a goal. I know I can set aside these moments. Even though the 5 minutes is daunting now, it will get less so as I incrementally add time. We know this is a formula applicable to building lean tissue and strength, and it should (at least in theory) apply to mental muscle as well. Truthfully, I’m not 100% certain how to get to five minutes, given the fast pace of my work. That’s fine. I don’t have to see the whole staircase. I’ve taken the first step.

You can make very, very small changes that are consistent with your big goals without having to understand how you’re going to get to the endgame.

This is the way I suggest we live life. When we don’t know the traditional or tested way to start, fuck it. Just move. With 2015 here, let’s make a pact to take consistent action, no matter our desired outcome. We are resourceful human beings. We will figure it out.

Happy New Year,

Kap