Today I want to talk to you about how to prevent a phenomenon that I call – Personal Groundhog Day. In the US it is Groundhog Day today and I’m sure you’re reminded of the 1993 Movie Ground Hog Day, where Bill Murray’s character repeated the same day over and over again. This got me thinking about a situation that I call Personal Groundhog Day. This is when we find ourselves setting the same goals year after year, only to realize we’ve made little to no progress on them… we are stuck in a loop of unfulfilled aspirations. But fear not! You can take to break free from this cycle and move forward with purpose and clarity.
Step 1. Why are you not making progress?
First do some soul-searching. Ask yourself a question that I often ask my coaching clients “what’s preventing me from making progress?” Is it fear, a secret love affair with the status quo, or perhaps realizing that deep down, this is not a goal you actually want to pursue?
Step 2. Set SMARTER goals
Next, let’s talk SMARTER goals. Now I hear you saying Yeah yeah yeah we all know about smarter goals… but the truth is they are actually backed by neuroscience – people who set Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic Time-bound, Exciting and Relevant goals and much more likely to be successful and to feel fulfilled.
Step 3. Create accountability
Then you might want to grab yourself accountability person – this can be a coach or a buddy who will be your cheerleader but also call you out when you are slacking or making excuses.
Step 4. Adopt a growth mindset
Lastly, slap on those growth mindset goggles. View every hiccup as a stepping stone, not a stumbling block. Each day is a new chance to throw yesterday’s playbook out the window and write a fresh one.
By taking these steps, you can ensure that this year is different. You have the power to prevent a personal Groundhog Day and to make progress that is meaningful and lasting. Let’s make 2024 the year that you break the cycle and move forward with intention and joy. Remember, every day is a new beginning, a chance to do something differently and to create the life you truly desire.