New Years resolutions can be exciting, helpful and motivating. They can also be incredibly self-defeating and leave us feeling worse than we did pre-resolution. As women striving for success, how do we set goals that pave the path to victory rather than failure? How can we set quality goals that are going to build us up rather than tear us down? How can we set goals that matter?

Screen+Shot+2017-12-22+at+11.40.30+AM.png — What is getting in your way?

If you are unsure of what it is you want to change, pursue or seek after, think about roadblocks; the things that get in the way of your personal productivity. Why do those things get in the way? What is the underlying issue? More often than not, patterns of avoidance point to something much deeper, so why not tackle the issue head on? Self betterment doesn't happen on it’s own. That would be far too convenient.

Screen Shot 2017-12-22 at 12.00.29 PM.png — What is on your mind most and why?

Think about what consumes your mental capacity; the things that you think about when you’re stuck in traffic, in the shower, or right before falling asleep at night. Ask yourself why that thing is always on your mind. It is so essential to decipher if it is healthy for those thoughts to be constantly swarming around in your brain. If it is, pursue that dream & make it a reality! Inspire those thoughts to action. If it’s unhealthy and bringing you down, find ways to reverse that negative thinking and get going on the road to effective goal setting.

Screen+Shot+2017-12-22+at+12.04.39+PM.png — Think Big Picture

Imagine being able to see this upcoming year laid out in front of you. What do you want to be different by this time next year? Find small ways to pursue that large scale goal. Doing it all at once can burden to the load. Set small goals that will propel you towards long term success. Goal setting shouldn't be something that you beat yourself up over, rather it should be refreshing and leave you feeling rejuvenated, like you can conquer the world, because you can!

Screen+Shot+2017-12-22+at+11.53.28+AM.png — Think About the Larger Impact

One of the things we so often leave out when goal setting is thinking about community impact. Try thinking about what it is you are wanting to pursue and how that is going to impact those around you. Bring others into your new resolutions and get involved in theirs. Support from friends & family is absolutely essential to effectively setting goals and living into them. Let's make this year count. Pursue those dreams, take risks and support each other every step of the way.