Resolutions vs Goals

“Resolutions require only words. Results take actions.”  ~ Tony Robbins

I have no doubt, you’ve probably notice that there’s always a lot of discussion about resolutions in January, then shortly after, the topic goes dormant and disappears until the next new year. My guess is, you may have even set down to write out your own resolutions this past week. Which is great, don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to bash resolutions, but I do want to make a couple of things very clear to help you actually succeed at them this year.

Often people will use the terms resolutions and goals interchangeably. And while they are similar, there are some distinct differences that I think it’s important to know when deciding to set resolutions or set goals. So today, I’m going to differentiate between the two for you and tell you why, although you can have a goal without a resolution, if you want a resolution to really stick, you must have goals.

The two biggest differences between resolutions and goals:

• Resolution are usually general and vague. While a goal is more specific.
• Resolution are often ongoing and timeless. While a goal has a more definite timeline/deadline.

Let me give you an example:

You may have a new year’s resolution to “get healthy”. This resolution, while a great idea, is actually quite vague. There’s not much specific or measurable to it. There’s also no real deadline because it’s not really something you want to stop. Ideally, it is ongoing. (Even though most people fall back into old habits and stop their resolutions within the first month.)

A goal on the other hand, is much more specific. It would have a measurable outcome that you are looking to reach and a timeline/deadline set up to reach it. A goal based on the resolution above might be more like this: I will lose 10lbs in the next 6 weeks by putting the following actions into place - eating only plant-based foods, staying away from refined sugar and exercising 4 days a week. I will also commit to drinking 64oz of water a day and getting 7-8 hours of sleep. The goal is measurable, lays out the plan and gives you specific actions to take to reach it. In addition, each action can be a specific/measurable goal within itself. Plus, the goal has an ending. Once you reach that end (10lbs/6wks), you can celebrate it, set a new goal and keep moving forward.

Why do these differences matter?

First of all, clarity is a big part of achieving success. If you’re not clear on what you want and how you will get there, you will be more likely to get overwhelmed, frustrated, distracted and off course. When you do that, it’s much more likely to quit then continue. If you really want to reach a new level in your life, having specific, measurable goals with a well-defined action plan, will give you a clear vision for where you want to go and how to get there.

It is also extremely helpful to had a deadline. Why? Two reasons – Change and challenge can seem hard or scary. When people feel this way, they are more likely to hesitate, procrastinate and put off taking actions, especially if they do not have a deadline. This is the old, “I’ll start tomorrow.” but tomorrow never come, concept. And the other reason, is that making a change or having a big dream can seem overwhelming. By giving yourself a deadline that you can see and work towards, it makes you feel like its more manageable. For example, if I told you that to succeed, you had to stand on one leg for the rest of your life, you’d probably walk away from me and never even try. But if I asked you to stand on one leg for 2 hours, to reach a new level of life, you’d most likely give it a try. And you’d keep working at it till you could stand for 2 hours. Then once you achieved that goal, you would be more likely to try standing longer. Right? (Silly example, I know. But you get it.)

So, how will you succeed at your resolutions this year?  

If you want to make this year different and actually stick to your resolutions… then you must have goals attached to your resolutions. The resolve to change, is just your commitment to it. Goals are where all the action is. And that my friend, is the key to actually resolving to change forever.