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By Lorene Rasmussen
By the time you read this article, we will be on the south side of Christmas, headed north into the new year. Today is December 23, 2011. In a few hours, we will be checking into Christmas Central for the weekend, where merriment comes natural and grandchildren will be anxiously waiting for what's under the tree. But right now, it's quiet. I have my coffee, carols playing in the background, and time to reflect on the months that brought me here . . . to this moment. While I wouldn't call 2011 my best year ever, I can say it's been a very, very good year.
Last January, I wrote an article on how goal-setting can be a courageous act. I serendipitously shared with you three components that I believed could help you keep your New Year's resolutions and reach your goals. Guess what? "Eureka!" they worked. It's been nothing less than fusion for my life! You know where two or more components come together to create energy?
Albert Einstein, one of my favorite scientists, introduced what has been called the twentieth century's best-known equation: E=MC2 (Energy equals mass times the velocity of light squared). This equation suggested that small quantities of mass could be converted into huge amounts of energy, thus becoming the forerunner in understanding nuclear power. But what does Einstein's theory have to do with me keeping my 2011 resolutions? In a word, everything!
So what are the three components that energized me and contributed to my very good year? Motivation, Change, and Courage. (E=MC2) I won't even pretend that my little discovery is of the same magnitude as Einstein's, but I do love a good play on words.
Motivation
In January I wrote, "No matter what time of year you set a goal, it is important to examine WHY you want to spend your time and energy on such a pursuit." I encouraged you to explore the reason behind your desired goal. Today I want you to do the same by asking, what motivates you? What "matters" to you as a leader?
Steven Reiss from Ohio State University writes, "Motives are reasons people hold initiating and performing voluntary behavior . . . they may reveal a person's values." From ancient Greek philosophers to social psychologists, and all the way to pop icon inspirational speakers like Jack Canfield, many have recognized the importance of individuals taking the time to contemplate what it is that drives or motivates them. It is in the understanding of what motivates you to achieve a particular outcome that will help form the "why" in your goal-setting for the New Year to come.
Change
Let's just say it and get it out of the way. "Change is hard and uncomfortable!" Even when carefully crafting a well-thought-out resolution or list of goals, creating new habits to fulfill them will take some time. It doesn't take a neuroscientist to tell us what we all know intuitively, yet they have confirmed through functional magnetic resonance imaging (f MRI), as well as other technological breakthroughs, what takes place in the unseen neural connections within the brain. Most of us operate on autopilot after we have learned a particular routine or habit. Upon making conscious repetitive changes in our behavior, we create brand-new neural connections within our brain function, which helps explain in part some of the actual physiological discomfort that takes place during transformational times. Change is hard but it's been proven we can all do it.
Courage
Courage implies a firmness of will and a steadfast mind to face difficult situations. Often when we think of courage, we think of the soldier off to war in Afghanistan or a person here at home fighting the horrific effects of cancer, but courage isn't always so brazen. We already know that by nature change is hard, so the determination to achieve one's end will also take a certain amount of courage.
There's personal risk involved in deciding to set goals. Perhaps you have done that before and not achieved your desired outcome. Your fear of failure (again) may cause you to default into settling for status quo. Helen Keller reminds us that, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." It's my humble opinion that life is worth more than settling for status quo.
Goals Met
This year (2011) my resolutions included but were not limited to: Eat less, feast more!; Talk less, say more!; Drive less, journey more!; Complete marathon number five; Lose ten pounds; read Mark Twain's newest book; Find a job; Walk my dog; Be inspired; Use my joy filter; and meet my neighbors. I can honestly say I achieved each one of these except maybe, Talk less, say more! It's true that each of these met goals are fairly small in the big scheme of things, but reaching them has moved me closer to where I ultimately want to be in my life journey.
E=MC2
While a few of you may have the chance to apply Einstein's theory directly, I want to encourage everyone to find out what "matters" to you and convert it into energy to achieve your desired goals in the New Year. Examine your motivation, determine what needs to be changed, and find the courage to make it happen.
So here we are at the end of another year and more importantly, at the end of my article. The time has come for me to put the finishing touches on this and other Christmas preparations, so let me close with the lyrics from an old Karen Carpenter song:
Greeting cards have all been sent
The Christmas rush is through,
But I still have one wish to make,
A special one for you:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Lorene Rasmussen is a freelance writer, editor and regular contributor to The Leadership Advisor. She is looking forward to 2012 and will soon begin training for her sixth marathon. Lorene earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Boise State University and is a certified Life Coach through Genesis Enterprises in Seattle, Washington.
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