How to reach your goals?

Think about what you truly love doing and define your “why” in order to reach your goals.
Here’s my personal story finding different “why’s”:

About 6-7 years ago I was not too happy with my weight and body shape and my main goal was to become healthier and fitter. Being a very energetic person, I’ve always liked to move: walking, hiking, skiing, running, … but I always had a few months where I practiced a lot of sport, and months where I just couldn’t get myself motivated to work out. I was signed up at the gym for many years and I tried a lot: spinning (which I really enjoyed for a while), zumba, pilates, the cross trainer, lifting weights, kangoo jumping. I also tried padel during some time. It was all great but I somehow couldn’t get into a regular routine. It frustrated me.

More or less at this time, I started listening more and more to podcasts around different kind of topics: health, psychology, leadership, entrepreneurship, philosophy … it’s still one of my most favourite activities, as I’m a very auditive person and I love learning. I used to listen to podcasts on my way to work, while cooking dinner or cleaning… until I finally realised I could connect this activity with a walk or run. This might seem so easy for you to see today – and it is for me too – but at that time, it took me a while. Suddenly I couldn’t wait for my run because I knew it meant moving AND listening to an interesting podcast. It’s crazy how the human mind works. On many days I got up very early and ran before work. Running accompanied me during many years and different moments of my life, until I ran my first half marathon at the end of 2021.

“Why’s” can also change. At the beginning of 2022, I discovered yoga and a new “why”, that was a lot bigger for me at that time: Yoga helped me to feel calmer and gave me comfort while I was going through a very difficult, personal time. I had tried it during Covid at home and wanted to give it another try, going physically to a yoga studio. My friends chose my studio (in form of a class as a birthday gift) and it became my community and a place, where I discovered myself, my breath, my body in a new form. Connecting to that feeling and how I felt in every class, and afterwards, made it clear for me to decide that I would want to take more classes, learn more… and yoga became my new routine.

You see, in both situations (running and yoga): It’s possible, when you discover something you love. And then you connect it to your goal.
Or better: You create your goal from there.

If your personal goal is to become fitter in the new year, I can totally understand your frustration if it takes you a while to get into it. Ask yourself: What do I really love? Maybe you prefer team sports (tennis, padel, volleyball, soccer, …), you love climbing, dancing, pole dance, rollerskating, iceskating, whatever it is. Or you love taking ceramic classes and you could choose a ceramic class place that is 30-45 minutes walking distance from your house and once or twice a week when you have class, you walk there and back instead of taking the car. That’s also a great work-out. It’s just an example. You can do this with any kind of activity. What I want to say: It doesn’t have to be the gym. It doesn’t have to be what everyone else does. Try different things before you “decide” on a goal.
There are SO many different possibilities.

The same applies to your professional goals, in case you are thinking about a change. Think about your passions, what you enjoy, your personal strengths. We focus a lot on improving our “weak attributes” and often we haven’t even defined where we are really good, better than the rest. Everyone has a unique talent and/or passion. Everyone. You have your unique talents.

My personal experience and love for Yoga was what led me to India, my yoga teacher training and entering a new world, and suddenly a new goal was born: The goal, to bring more mindfulness and mental balance into the corporate world. And this is the website you are on now.

Looking back, this is my personal advice to sum up: Please stop making huge, unrealistic goals. Forget about the new years resolutions that you heard others are doing and seem healthy or great and that’s why you think you should follow that path as well. It’s great to be inspired by others. But: Your life is your life. This is your personal path.

Ask yourself the important questions: What do you TRULY LOVE doing? What’s your favourite activity? What motivates you when you get up in the morning?
Find that thing, find that purpose that drives you. Follow your personal “why” I am doing this. And from there: Create the goals that are realistic to you.
Create the goals that feel good to you. And the goals that you actually want to reach. Because you know they truly fulfill YOU.

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section.