Member-only story
On Setting And Quitting Goals
What to do instead of chasing everyone else’s goals
Is it February already?
If you are like me, you must be wondering how an entire month of January 2023 seems to have vanished without a trace? Wasn’t it just yesterday when you were wishing ‘happy new year’ to people and struggling with goals and resolutions?
Talking of resolutions, did you know that the second Friday of each year is termed Quitter’s Day? Surveys show that motivation for most new year resolutions begin to wane after the first two weeks of a new year. I wasn’t entirely surprised to learn about this since I have dropped many well-meaning goals over the years.
Two weeks ago when I came across news of New Zealand’s charismatic Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s decision to step down from her powerful role,I felt agitated. Of course, my choice to pursue (or drop) self- development goals were insignificant compared to the responsibilities she bore, yet, I wondered why we had both decided to abandon paths that we had personally chosen.
What does Ardern’s resignation from a powerful public post have in common with the vast majority of people who compile (and perhaps give up on) new year resolutions in private? A lot.