... continued from Cover
2019
Then, transfer the pizza — parchment paper and all — to the pizza stone. We swear by the process.
What was once a fun dinner activity has become an important marker, something to look forward to and talk about in advance. When it’s been a long week, someone will say, “We just have to get to Pizza Friday.” It’s the perfect way to transition away from the demands of work and school — a little reward for making it through. Every week, the kids pick some music, and we crank up the tunes and bake pizza to our hearts (and stomachs) content. It’s the perfect way to relax and remember that, no matter what, we’ve got each other.
2012
–Sierra and Kevin Bennett
2022
A Strong Track Record Improve Your Self- Confidence with Goals
Some people are natural goal- setters, while others can’t understand all the fuss. For those who don’t gravitate toward goal- setting, the process can seem like giving yourself additional chores. But there are multiple proven benefits to setting goals for yourself, including improving your motivation and focus. Perhaps more surprisingly, setting and meeting goals also improves self-confidence. The mechanism is pretty intuitive. When we do more, we feel capable of more, and when we successfully stretch ourselves outside our comfort zones, our comfort zones get wider. When you create and accomplish goals, you create a track record for yourself that says, “I can do this.” We feel better about ourselves and our abilities to succeed at whatever we set out to do.
Research shows that working toward your goals — not only achieving them — helps build self-esteem. But unfortunately, many people select goals that set them up for failure. Think back on all those times you tried to quit smoking, eat healthier, or get in shape. Once you fail at a goal, you lose confidence in ever achieving it, and each effort becomes more half-hearted than the one before. So, how do you avoid this trap? Experts recommend that you set SMART goals — ones that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and have a timeframe. Each of the five criteria is crucial to success. Specific and measurable goals remove the fuzziness around what it means to “make friends” or “spend less” by attaching direct actions and numbers to them. Achievable goals push the bounds of what’s possible without
overshooting, and a relevant goal ties into your overall vision for your life. Finally, giving yourself a timeframe creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay accountable. With this framework in mind, it’s easy to see why a common goal like “get into shape” falls short. A SMART goal for a sedentary person might instead be to run one mile without stopping after one month of training. The goal is specific, so is the time frame, and it’s easy to measure a mile on a treadmill or the street. Further, running a mile is attainable without being too easy, and it’s relevant to one’s goal of improving fitness. Try setting your own SMART goals and working toward them with diligence and conviction. You might be surprised at how your life changes — and how you start to see yourself.
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