This year, don't set New Year's resolutions. Do this instead...

Majority of New Year's resolution setters will only make it 3 months before calling it quits according to a Forbes Health/One Poll survey. So why, then, do so many of us continue to emphasize New Year's resolutions? Thankfully, in the realm of personal growth and self-improvement, there has been a shift towards exploring values instead of solely focusing on goal setting. While goals can provide direction and motivation, they often fail to address the deeper aspects of what truly matters to us. We often fall into the trap of setting goals that aren't realistic and become discouraged and frustrated with ourselves when we're not able to achieve them. Instead of focusing on setting specific goals this year, try shifting your focus to exploring your values and committing to really living in a way that reflects a particular value.

For example, a New Year's resolution might be to lose 20lbs. The values underlying that goal might be perseverance, comfort, courage, accountability (plus many, many more). By shifting your focus from rigid goal setting to exploring your values, you can align your actions with what truly matters in life. In this example, shifting from setting a goal of losing 20lbs to committing to doing one thing everyday that reflects the value of accountability can drastically change the outcome. This approach recognizes that life is dynamic and ever-changing, and allows for flexibility as you navigate the inevitable ups and downs along your journey.

By exploring our values, we shift our focus from rigidly pursuing predefined goals towards living a life that is more meaningful and aligned with who we truly are. What's one thing you can do, each day, to live a life that truly aligns with your values?