<img class=" aligncenter" src="https://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/new-years-resolutions.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="428" />We’re four days into the New Year. If you’re like me, I suspect you’ve broken one or more of the resolutions you made for this year.

It happens. Good intentions slide, pushed aside by reality and unrealistic expectations.

What happens next is discouragement. Our mindset becomes <em>I can’t</em> and we set aside our goals. We give up.

That’s so sad and not the correct response, in my opinion. Let me tell you why I think that way.

Recently my youngest daughter shared her <a href="http://elisejoy.com/2016goaltracker" target="_blank">Elsie Joy’s goal tracker sheet</a> from 2015 on Instagram. Every day she had marked her goal progress. On December 31st she did the math and found she’d hit her goal 93.15% of the time. For someone who works full time in a high tech position that requires lots of travel, scrapbooks, blogs, and corrals three active teenagers and a special needs dog. That’s a remarkable result!

So why was my daughter so successful? I believe there are two reasons:
First, she applied Elise Joy’s principle of “Big Things Happen One Day at a Time.”
Second, when she missed a day to bubble in one of her circles, she blew it off and let it go.

I’m big on accountability and goals. I’ve always set yearly goals and charted the methods I’d use to accomplish those goals. Learn more about my process <a href="http://wp.me/p1tg5L-y1" target="_blank">here</a>. http://wp.me/p1tg5L-y1

This year I’m adding a goal sheet like my daughter's as a handy visual to chart my success. Seeing those circles bubbled will encourage.

<a href="http://judythewriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/goal-sheets.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6408" src="http://judythewriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/goal-sheets-300x225.jpg" alt="goal sheets" /></a>Looking bare right now, but 2016 just started. Yes, you’ll also notice there are already days I’ve missed for one of my goals.

That’s okay. Tomorrow is a new day.

Btw, I get no kickback from Elsie Joy. I just happened to believe her chart is a great way to stay on target for our New Years’ resolutions. Check out <a href="http://bit.ly/1PHgiJc" target="_blank">her website</a> for other goal setting tools.

Or, create your own chart design if you want. But most of all, I hope you forget about the broken resolutions and give those resolutions another try.