Jeff Brutlag

It’s 2019, and I’m feeling refreshed and ready to kick this year right in the butt! I hope you are, as well!

Like most times when a new year starts, we’re all in this mode of trying to make changes for the better. And that’s great! It’s good to have reasons to make changes in your life. Sure, every day should be an opportunity to better yourself, but the new year transition has the air of freshness and starting with a clean slate, and I think finding determination in that aspect is amazing! The issue comes with how we keep that momentum going, but no matter what, having that drive to start making changes is a very important start.

I don’t really like making “resolutions,” because they feel so distant. They feel like a setup for disappointment. I like to set smaller goals and try to create positive habits that I didn’t have in previous years. There’s definitely nothing wrong with having big, lofty resolutions, but if it’s possible to break them up into smaller goals, that can be a big help!

In 2019, I plan to…

• Write at LEAST 500 words a day, 5 times per week (even more, if it’s a good day!)
• Collaborate more
• Grow my Twitch community even more
• START. A DANG. NOVEL.
• Make plans with friends at least once a week (twice, if possible)
• Get into more publications
• Pet more dogs

That last one is the most important, clearly.

I feel like those are all achievable, right? Like, I look at those goals for myself, and feel like working on them is possible, rather than look at a goal that’s like “I’m going to get a novel published!” and then feel STRESSED about trying to get it done before the year ends. At least with this list of goals for myself, I’ll still feel content if I don’t start a novel, but could possibly be very close to finishing one. Neat!

Aside from all of those smaller goals. The biggest thing I do want to work on is trying to work my way out of a lot of self-destructive mindsets that I created. I had a particularly tough year, last year, trying to find my way in a career that’s brand new to me while coping with the death of my mother, and that made me feel like I was both unsuccessful and VERY unimportant. I feel like this, more than anything, is what has hindered my progress, and I’m tired of that being the reason why I don’t feel like I’m talented, hard-working, or driven enough to achieve my dreams.

In fact, I even wrote a send-off to all of those self-destructive habits that I posted on my Medium page. If you could read it, that would mean the world to me. I think it was one of the best ways I could have kicked off this year, and I’m going to work hard to make sure the momentum from it sticks around for a long time. I’m hoping it’s just one of many amazing writing projects that I put into the world, this year.

I hope you all have been having an AMAZING start to 2019, and I hope you achieve every goal you set for yourself, this year!

What are some things you plan on working toward? Let me know! I want to hype you up!