If you need inspiration for sticking to your goals, spend a few minutes with a toddler. My daughter amazes me every day her determination to attain her goals.
Kids come into this world with the ability to go after what they want, and they get it.
This is a quality that we as adults sometimes forget.
Here is what my munchkin has made clear:
Live in the now.
Kids do not care about what happened yesterday or what might happen in 5 minutes. Now is all that counts. For my daughter, this second is what matters. There is no waiting for a better time. Take that as a lesson – live in the moment. Don’t look back at the past. It’s gone. The future isn’t certain yet so all you have in today, right now. Make it count.
Give everything you’ve got to attain your goal.
My daughter works endlessly to achieve whatever she wants. She will keep looking for ways to get results. I may want her to go to sleep, but if that’s not her goal, she finds ways to not go to sleep. She approaches each goal from every angle she can think of with every trick she can think of, and she will not give up until sleep is her new goal. When you have a goal, are you doing everything you can? Are you looking for all the ways you might your goal a reality?
Care not what anyone thinks.
My girl could care less if what I want is the same thing she wants. She doesn’t ask my opinion about what she should do. She just does it. You don’t need friends, family, or anyone else to tell you how to get the things you want. You know own your own mind and desires. Ask for support, not opinions.
Don’t allow strong feelings to shut you down. Lean to move on quickly.
A toddler can throw a fit with total commitment. She also commits to being happy, sleepy, cute, or grumpy. She commits body, mind, and soul to whatever mood she is in. Remember she lives in the now. I know your emotions sometimes get away from you. Don’t expect yourself to always be happy. Allow for sometimes sadness. Go with the flow of your own feelings. Allow yourself to feel what you feel but move on.
No fear of failure.
Kids plan for success. My daughter is convinced that if she tries, she’ll succeed. She’s learning to walk right now. She falls down more than she walks. She doesn’t fear the fall because she know the walking is worth all the bumps. She has no fear of failure. Success is too sweet to let fear prevent her from achieving goal. When you’re planning your goals, plan to for achievement. If you don’t get it, well, pick yourself up and try again. And again.
Live in the now, be fearless, care not what anyone thinks of you, let your feelings just be your feelings, and give your goals everything you’ve got!
So here’s to building the life you love, toddler style!
