ROCK thru your New Year intention with empowering connections
by Lee Havenga | January 18, 2024
Based on statistics, your resolutions likely have already hit a snag just three weeks into the new year, leaving you feeling the weight of setbacks. But fear not. Despite any initial stumbles, you can still lay a new foundation to ROCK thru and meet your goals. Having shared the value of a firm intention and delved into habit-building strategies in previous articles, there’s another vital piece – the empowering force of Connection. This third article in our four-part series uncovers the impact of Connection to others and Spirit on your journey to ROCK thru your New Year’s goals.
Unlock success not solely through your efforts but by drawing strength from the energy and experience of others and the divine, such as your belief in God or a higher order of the universe.
Meaningful change in behaviors comes from meaningful connections.
CONNECTION
Apply Connections to Others:
1. Share your New Year goal with someone you admire
To keep a New Year’s resolution, we often share our goals openly, sometimes blanketing social media, to foster broad accountability. However, Howard Klein’s research suggests a contrary approach. Sharing your aspirations specifically with someone you admire sets a standard for yourself, creating a more valuable accountability. Klein notes, “You want to be dedicated and unwilling to give up on your goal, which is more likely when you share that goal with someone you look up to.”
- Choose a mentor or role model who has achieved similar goals.
- Share your aspirations with them, seeking guidance and feedback.
- Regularly update your mentor on your progress, fostering accountability and check-ins to gain advice on specific roadblocks.
2. Collaborate and meet New Year Goals together
Collaboration isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a potent strategy. A study of highly effective research teams highlights that effective teamwork hinges on building trust, fostering a solid vision, and sharing recognition. Collaborating with others working towards the same goal provides a network of support, ideas, and encouragement. As the study emphasizes, trust is a critical element for cohesive teamwork. Working together amplifies efforts and celebrates collective victories, fostering a sense of community.
- Identify individuals with similar goals and form a collaborative group.
- Schedule regular check-ins to share progress, challenges, and insights.
- Celebrate achievements together, reinforcing a supportive network.
Apply Connection to Spirit:
3. Connect with something bigger for big results
We can leverage our sense of purpose when our goals go beyond personal desires and connect to something greater. Professor Carol D. Ryff, in her exploration of spirituality and well-being, suggests that a Connection to nature fosters profound experiences that aid in personal growth. As Ryff puts it, “Close connection to and participation in the natural world may vitally nurture sacred, soulful experiences that help us become our best selves.”
- Align your intentions with activities that serve a larger purpose – joined to your spiritual beliefs, linked to the work or teachings of the entity you consider God.
- Fulfill your intentions outside while expressing gratitude for the wonders of nature. If you intend to paint, take up yoga, or spend more time with your family, do so outside, inspired and connected to the wonders of nature.
- Look for ways to infuse your goals to benefit humanity and the world around you.
In your pursuit of staying true to the life change you’d like, recognize the power of Connection to others and spirit. These connections bridge intention and achievement, enabling you to ROCK thru your goals and make a more meaningful life.
XO ~ Lee
Sources:
Klein, Howard J., et al. “When Goals Are Known: The Effects of Audience Relative Status on Goal Commitment and Performance.” Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 105, no. 4, 2020, pp. 372-389.
Bennett, L. Michelle, and Howard Gadlin. “Collaboration and Team Science: From Theory to Practice.” Journal of Investigative Medicine, vol. 60, no. 5, 2012.
Ryff, Carol D. “Spirituality and Well-Being: Theory, Science, and the Nature Connection.” Religions, vol. 12, 2021, pp. 914. doi:10.3390/rel12110914.
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