I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions.  I know myself too well for that, and I don’t want to set myself up for failure. Plus, most resolutions focus on one final end result, as opposed to behavior changes that could help you sustain this resolution. i.e. Say you want to lose 10 pounds. You could do this by crash/fad/unhealthy diet the last couple months of the year, or you can do this by positively making changes your eating/activity/other habits that will help you maintain the lower weight you hoped for.

So instead, I make goals. This year, I’m focusing on goals that will help me change specific habits, which I feel will help me get the most out of life, and enjoy life a little bit more, even on the toughest of days.  I’ll be posting each day on Instagram and Facebook each day as well.  I’ll try to explain them a little bit better here.

Goal 1

Now, ask for help can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people, and often, even to the same person depending on the situation. And I’m not above asking for help when it’s something that I know I can’t do, or something someone else can do much more easily without much effort expended (i.e. reach something on a top shelf, since I’m 5’0 in shoes).

Where I’m often bad at asking for help is bigger projects or commitments, when I think people will just say no. Or won’t respond. Or that I’m putting them in a bad spot by asking because they don’t have the time/energy/etc but feel bad saying no. Take Spread Hope Project for instance. I’ll put out a general, “Hey follow me on… like me on… here’s my blog link”. Or I’ll do a generic, “Anyone interested on helping? Any local businesses want to be part of a project?”. But I’m really not good at asking people, or local companies, or anyone else, directly.  I haven’t once reached out to those I love directly, individually, and said, “It would mean the world to me if you could post a few pics with #spreadhopeproject tagged. Or if you would buy a shirt and post with it. I know it’s money, but there’s a sale for 40% off right now so it wouldn’t be too much.”

Even writing those words above, I feel like I’m putting people on the spot and it makes me squirm.  Which is ironic because when people ask me to help with something (unless it’s selling something directly/having some sort of selling party, for reasons of my own) I am almost always excited to do so. Especially if it’s for a good cause.  So why it bothers me so much, I don’t know. I can’t count the number of times someone I thought just didn’t care had never seen my posts about fundraising, or being in need of support or help, or something like that. Or they thought they reached out but didn’t, or meant to and forgot.

I’m going to start slowly, maybe posting specific requests, but not asking outright. At least that takes away the generic aspect, even if still a more mass/safe approach. But I’m going to attempt to be more comfortable with asking directly. Because you never know who’s searching for an opportunity like the one you’re offering, and neither of you even realize it.