As we wrap up 2024, several of us reflect on the year's highs and lows while quietly contemplating the changes we hope to make before stepping into 2025. It's easy to get swept up in the excitement of setting up overly ambitious resolutions, crafting these goals in hopes that they will improve our lives and protect our health.
How can we mindfully create realistic and sustainable goals while avoiding burnout? The last thing we need is to end up worse off than before, overwhelmed by feelings of despair and hopelessness. Kirsten Kemp (a.k.a. Kirsten the Confident Dancer), a former dancer and current High-Performance Mindset coach, contributes some of her most valuable insights on constructing resolutions that foster consistency and long-term success. Keep scrolling if you're ready to shift your mindset and step into a happier, healthier version of yourself with these five practical hacks!
#1 Not Everything is Within Your Control
First, acknowledge that no matter how many grueling hours we spend preparing and working relentlessly toward something—whether it's an audition, a big role, or a promotion—success can still be beyond our control. That being said, we still have the responsibility of continuing our personal growth and giving our best effort. The option to proactively improve our dancing is ultimately up to us. We can choose to either zoom in on our progress or fixate on an outcome that hasn’t even happened yet. We can choose to cultivate confidence—or not. At other times, we may simply need to reconnect with the joy and passion that brought us to dance in the first place!
As dancers, we live and breathe in a highly competitive art form where it's easy to develop tunnel vision and lose sight of the deeper passions that drive us. It’s only when we intentionally shift our mindset and put in the work that we can unlock our hidden strengths. While external factors may change the course of our plans, these little hiccups can sometimes serve us better in the end. Who doesn't appreciate a good plot twist with a happy ending?
#2 Breaking Free from the Myth of Realistic Limits
Kirsten Kemp believes this concept of being "realistic" is more complex than it may seem to be and that it usually carries a lot of excess baggage. “When I coach dancers, I often hear a lot of limiting beliefs when I listen to them use the term realistic. Being realistic can sometimes translate to not trusting yourself, especially when it comes to following through with your goals or believing that you’re not capable, worthy, or good enough to have that, ” she explains.
Instead, start by questioning your motives. Acknowledge that wanting to achieve big things already requires vulnerability. That's a courageous first step! Let's redefine "realistic" as creating a plan that lines up with your values and makes room for growth- avoiding self-doubt.
#3 Have Hope in What You Haven’t Seen (Yet)
When we begin to establish faith in our potential and skills, we're ultimately building a level of trust. Manifesting positivity and repeating affirmations centered around our goals and dreams might alleviate some of the uncertainty that weighs us down. Things that once seemed impossible might become less daunting than before.
Instead of asking yourself why something hasn’t happened for you yet, consider reframing your question to: " What are the necessary steps I can take to bring this closer to reality?" Each step is a step in the right direction, and, just like anything, it takes repetition and consistency. Remember, even when we aren't seeing immediate progress and results, things are aligning behind the scenes.
#4 Make Goals Tangible and Measurable
Kemp recommends asking yourself what kind of results you'd like to achieve from your goals. Psychologically, motivation comes from the expectation of a reward as a result of your actions. What if your goals don’t turn out as planned? Well, you might face the risk of facing tremendous disappointment and possibly forgoing all of your resolutions altogether.
Goals should be intentional and tangible with a primary focus and energy behind them. Kirsten suggests a course of action, “A great way to put this within your control is to develop a clear, mental picture of what you want your dancing to look like by the time you’re going out and doing company auctions, etc. What are the qualities you want to bring into the auditions, and how can you start practicing this in class now?"
This actionable method of thinking will allow us to experience small, satisfying rewards along the way, regardless of the outcome. Believe it or not, growth can be equally as exciting and rewarding as success!
#5 Be Flexible With Expectations
Just because a goal isn't linear doesn’t mean it’s not working out. The speed at which we want to receive results might not align with our original timeline. Don't fear, that's okay! Success often looks a little rocky, so assuming there won't be any obstacles isn’t necessarily true.
As we've previously discussed, several factors can either sway or deter our goals, so being flexible and open-minded about bumps in the road is a great way to rework your thinking. Some of the most challenging moments can be transformative, even if they don't seem that way in the heat of the moment. Oddly enough, this is often where the magic happens.
I hope those who have read this post can now look forward to shaping some of their major goals and dreams. Remember, not everything will be achieved at the rate you want, but implementing these suggestions is a strong first step toward achieving success confidently. Allowing yourself to find meaning and purpose in your intentions will deepen your understanding of what you want. A major shoutout to Kirsten Kemp for sharing her indispensable advice on creating lasting and sustainable goals—her suggestions truly prepare us for a brighter future. Here's to an incredible 2025!
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*Zimmi's Corner is a collaboration between Zimmi Coker and PointePeople, bringing a unique professional perspective to the dance community with the mission to educate, empower and enrich dancers, globally.
At Zimmi’s Corner, our main mission is to provide readers with an outlet offering valuable information, practical tools, and actionable insights related to the dance community. We cover important topics concerning health, wellness, and nourishment to help deepen understanding of self-care and its role in ensuring healthy habits for a more sustainable dance career. Our goal is to empower everyone to start building a happier and healthier version of themselves so they can reach their most desired dreams!
Zimmi is currently a professional dancer with American Ballet Theatre and a passionate advocate for mental health and wellness. A published author for Dance Magazine, Zimmi is thrilled to be taking over Pointe People’s blog to share essential insights for individuals looking to improve their quality of life and uncover a renewed sense of purpose!
