Goals and Motivation

It's that time of year again, when many of us try and make a few resolutions for the year ahead  - and just as many of us fail to keep them beyond the first month or so. I long gave up on making any at all but I've been inspired to set some goals this year, partly through a series of short online videos I watched and partly due to one of my Christmas gifts. Both have motivated me to set specific goals and hopefully to see them through this time!

One of the most motivational speakers and writers I've come across this year is Michael Hyatt. I subscribed to his blog ages ago but over the past few weeks I've particularly enjoyed his online introductions to his major course for this year: 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever. Although I'm not doing the actual course, I've already got so much out of his little videos that I was motivated to set some specific goals for my writing and health. If you want to check him out, you can find details on Michael Hyatt's Blog - it's worth just watching the latest Question and Answer podcast he did.


The other motivator is one of the books my daughter gave me for Christmas: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I've been aware of this for years and I don't know why it's only now I wanted to study it - perhaps it's the right year for it, as study is the correct word. I had thought it was a book to read through, but it's actually more like a course. I've long been a fan of the 1930s book, Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brand, and suspected The Artist's Way was a kind of modern version. It is in some ways but goes beyond the original concept of the earlier book.

From the Morning Pages and Artist's Dates to the weekly exercises, it's a book to inspire and motivate an artist of any kind. So far, I've had a quick scan through it and have read the first two chapters where she explains the idea of the book, but I can't wait to begin the course in earnest tomorrow (Monday). In light of this, and Michael Hyatt's videos, I've made a sort of timetable for my week and one of the most important changes is to start with the Morning Pages, then after checking only emails, I'll get down to writing before doing any social media or online activity.

I'm always quite excited about a new year, but I have to say I'm even more enthusiastic than usual this year! I hope my motivation stays high and that my goals are more specific and achievable now I've written them down rather than just keeping them inside my head, as I normally do. Watch this space and I'll post an update at some point.

All the best with your hopes and plans for this year.
Rosemary