R.I.P. Resolutions

We're well into February in 2016, and for many people, their resolutions have long since been abandoned. Don't be discouraged for falling behind. Use the slack time to put some gasoline on the fire and start again! It's easy to procrastinate resolutions, especially when you've convinced yourself that you'll start it tomorrow, this weekend, or after that meeting on Monday. It's hard to attain some of the resolutions we set up for ourselves coming into the New Year.
Instead of beating yourself up about where you've fallen short, start making monthly goals to help you achieve that end-goal resolution. Whether it's losing twenty pounds, writing a novel, or fixing an antique car, trying to do that in the course of January is impossible (or close to it). People tend to let their resolutions fall by the wayside because of how big they are. That's why giving yourself a checklist, something for you to do every month, will immensely help you reach whatever your goal is. Seeing that progress through the weeks motivates you to keep working hard. The results are already showing because you've got a plan on how to achieve your goal.
This blog was started because of a resolution that I've never had before: help someone grow. In the past, I've had my fair share of New Year's resolutions. But none of them were to help benefit someone other than myself. After having a miscarriage two months ago, I didn't know how, or who, to reach out to for help. It's hard enough mourning the loss of an unborn child, but not having a support system around you makes it even harder. Still going through the healing process, I decided that I didn't want to succumb to my depression anymore. It was time to reach out and help someone grow. In life, many people search for happiness in all the wrong places. I think true happiness comes from watching someone else flourish in their life, and know that you helped them along the way. Planet Earth With Ember is my way of reaching out to anyone who is searching for help. You're not alone, and you never will be.
Anyway, having a list of a handful of things you can do every month allows you to see the results. What better way to get yourself hyped up than to watch as your blog views go into the hundreds, or watch the numbers on the scale get smaller and smaller? Discouragement comes when we let the matter (resolution) become over our minds. There's the cliche saying "mind over matter," and it couldn't be more accurate. The only person, thing, obstacle holding you back from achieving your goals is you. Ordinary every day people are the ones that do the most extraordinary things; change. Why not finally hike that mountain? Why not learn how to cook a five course meal? Who said you can't drive through cities, countries, continents? Why not today? What is so important that you can't be happy and love the life you're living?
Love yourself. Help you help yourself by setting attainable goals. David didn't defeat Goliath by charging at him straight on, untrained and unprepared to battle a giant. He used a pebble and a slingshot. These monthly goals are your pebble and sling shot made to help you defeat the Goliath that is your resolution.
Have faith in yourself. The Roman Empire wasn't built in a day.
Good luck to all of you.
And as always,
Live long and prosper.