Every year we try to make ourselves better in some way, because none of us are perfect and we see an opportunity for change in the new year. There are things about ourselves that may be detrimental to our own growth or potential that we have identified. Often, this could also mean something detrimental to those who are closest to us as well.
This could be issues such as alcoholism, gambling, overspending, unhealthy diet, anger issues, or just general negativity in our outlook. All of these are things we admitted to ourselves or others have pointed it out to us. However big or small these issues are, we know we can be better, and do better; whether this change for the better is for us or for those we love.
The tendency is to start off strong and then lose interest or confidence as the months roll on and we’re back to square one, with the same need for improvement we had from when we started. However, there are also many things that can be done to increase the odds that anyone can make their resolutions stick, and make changes for the better.
- Goal setting
Goal setting would be the first thing to look at, when it comes to how easy or hard it will be to change. Goals help guide a person to where they want or need to go, but they also can raise or lower the odds of success. A properly framed goal can go a long way towards helping a person achieve whatever they wish. - Set specific goals
The most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, which for many is admirable. The problem is that, “lose weight” is so vague that if a person lost two pounds, they attained their goal! The opposite could also be true. A person could think, “lose weight” and no matter how much they lost, it would never be good enough. For a goal to be effective it must be as specific as possible. To follow the example, a better goal would be to lose 25 pounds, instead of just lose some undetermined amount of weight. - Break up a goal into smaller increments
Small manageable steps actually help in hitting the larger goal. If you try to start running 5k right away, it would be painful and unwise for your health. Starting with smaller steps by running around the block this month a few times, next month running 1 k, and by the sixth month, you will be running that 5k race with better odds for success. - Set doable goals
It is good to set challenges, and to push past limits, but the goals set must be reasonable, healthy, and possible. Work with a health care provider to set good health goals, research what can be done in a certain time span, ask others how they have done, but above all listen to what the mind and body are saying; they will signal when it’s too much. Be reasonable, do not set a goal that cannot be achieved.
Knowing when and how to frame your mind towards specific goals will help guide the steps you need to take, but will also help make those steps possible. They will help motivate, and help push towards success when others give up. In the end, setting good and effective goals will help this become a successful new year.
Join us at College of Allied Educators to learn how you can unlock your innermost self to find success and happiness during this season and the coming new year.
DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY
Diploma in Counselling Psychology (DCPSY) is a claimable Skillsfuture counselling course covering a range of conceptual and functional skills in counselling. It trains students to apply appropriate counselling psychology skills in different situations, and equips students with the ability to work effectively as a counsellor.
POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY
Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology (PGDICP) is a counselling psychology course accredited by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC). The part-time Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology programme focuses on developing and enhancing experiential knowledge and skills through a holistic approach. Some of the subjects covered include Counselling Children, Addiction Intervention, Crisis Intervention, and Family Therapy.
For a FREE COURSE PREVIEW
CALL US at 6533-0031 EMAIL your enquiry to ENQUIRY@ICAE.EDU.SG
or Register for your free preview below: