Ahhhh Goals…
If you’re like me, you’re filled with great ideas. Some are easy to accomplish, while others take longer—so long, in fact, that they may never get done. It’s not that you lack ambition or drive; life gets busy, priorities shift, and before you know it, those dreams you held so tightly have quietly slipped to the side. You’re left wondering, “What if I had just kept going?”
It’s a thought that can feel heavy. But it’s also a spark. What if, instead of focusing on what didn’t happen, you focused on what could happen next?
Why We Lose Sight of Our Goals
Let’s be honest—sticking to long-term goals is hard, and it’s not just because of a lack of discipline. There are real barriers that many of us face:
- Life’s demands. Work, family, and the endless to-do list often take precedence over personal goals.
- Fear of judgment. Sometimes, sharing your aspirations with others feels too vulnerable. What if you fail? What if they don’t understand?
- Lack of accountability. Without someone—or something—reminding you to stay on track, it’s easy to lose momentum.
These challenges aren’t insurmountable, but they require strategies that meet you where you are.
Imagine If You Started Today
Take a moment to think about a goal you’ve put on hold. Maybe it’s learning a new skill, writing that book, or improving your health. Now ask yourself: What if I had started five years ago? Where might I be today?
This isn’t about regret. It’s about recognizing that the best time to start was then—but the second-best time is now. Even if you started once and stopped, your progress hasn’t vanished. It’s still there, waiting for you to pick up where you left off.
Finding Support on Your Journey
Achieving goals often requires accountability, but that doesn’t mean you need to broadcast your aspirations to the world. If you don’t have an accountability group—or if the idea of sharing your goals feels intimidating—a journal can be a powerful alternative.
Here’s why journaling works:
- It creates a private space for reflection. You can be honest about your fears, hopes, and progress without fear of judgment.
- It helps you track your progress. Seeing small wins builds momentum and keeps you motivated.
- It’s a tool for accountability. A journal can act as your quiet companion, gently reminding you to stay focused.
If you’re not sure where to start, a guided journal can make the process easier. The 52 Week Guided Journal for Women is one example designed to help you set goals, reflect on your journey, and celebrate progress every step of the way. It’s like having a coach in your corner, encouraging you week by week to keep going.
Start Small, Start Today
You don’t need a perfect plan or a grand gesture to begin. Start small. Take one step today, whether it’s writing down your goal, revisiting old progress, or simply committing to try again. Your journey doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s—it just needs to be yours.
A year from now, imagine looking back and seeing how far you’ve come. It’s not too late to start, and it’s not too late to succeed. You’ve got this.