Goal: One Change a Month for One Year

Do you think we can better ourselves and the world by investing in our personal goals? I believe so. If we strive for a better self worth, self value, and high expectations of ourselves, that we can overpower the negative parts of the world around us. If we project a better self, we lead by example and sometimes, other people will emulate our actions.

Goals are difficult to maintain. It's why I propose one easy goal of self improvement a month. If we start small and form a habit with the first goal, then we can add a second aspiration to our list of desired self improvements. No need to start January 1 either, start the very next month if you wish. It's not a competition with anyone but your own self being. You will have your own ideas for goals you want to complete but following are a few suggestions to get you started:

• donate to charity once a month. It can be money or donations to your favorite charity. Think animal shelters, Habitat for Humanity, women and children shelters, school lunch programs, or fighting human trafficking. Find a charity to donate to that matches your passion and interests. It doesn't have to be a large donation either but the more frequent you donate, the easier it becomes.

• Make a point to go on a date with your spouse once a month. This seems easy for newlyweds but for couples with children, the mundanity of life can interfere with your relationship and suddenly, you haven't gone on a date in a year! Whatever the activity, make sure you schedule a date once a month without kids.

• Cut back on soda. I talk about this everywhere on this website but it's important. You don't have to go cold turkey but maybe limit your soda intake by only a couple cans a week instead of a couple cans a day. If you drink diet, nix that and go back to regular. Diet soda is one of the worst drinks you can consume.

• Less take-out food, more at-home cooking. If you buy take-out 5 times a week, try limiting it to twice a week and stick to it for the rest of the year. It'll save you money, you'll reduce the amount of trash produced, and you will be eating healthier by cooking at home! Cooking doesn't have to be fancy: boiling some noodles and opening up a jar of pasta sauce (add a zucchini, broccoli, or carrot!) and voila! A 15 minute dinner!

• Talk more with your friends. Whether you can swing a once a week phone call or maybe just twice a month, talk with your friends from afar. Reconnecting or strengthening your bond with friends is important for the soul. It'll make you feel more happy, more relaxed and you will laugh more! Make this a habit last forever!

• Take care of yourself. This is broad but it's so important. Take time out of your day to just "stop." Read for 20 minutes, go outside and enjoy the weather with a drink and soak up vitamin D, do a quiet activity to reground your mind and slow it down. No music, no tv, no screentime. Just a 20 minute a day break for you for peace.

  
  

These are only a few ideas to help get your started. Begin with one goal and work on it for the entire month. When month 2 begins, start a new goal and keep your first goal going. Pretty soon, your goals will be daily, weekly, or monthly habits. When you project your positive vibe into the world, you will start to spread it throughout your community. When you see someone improve their lives, don't you feel a little envious and it makes you want to improve yours? Be the person people look to for inspiration!

Twelve personal goals for one year. Sounds like a way to improve the world, one person at a time.