Time to start a new year. You party animals already had the great evening out...yes? Or were you like me...in bed by the time it became 2007? Best Wishes to All in this New Year! May you be Prosperous, Content, Safe, Faithful, and Thankful.
Have you made your New Year's Resolutions? You know...those promises to one's self about self-improvement. You have not made any? Why? Because you know from past experience you will remain faithful to your resolutions only about two weeks, a month at the outside, and then go back to the old ways? Then why make them, you say to yourself, correct?
Why do we fail with our New Year's Resolutions? Maybe because we REALLY DID NOT WANT whatever it was that we resolved? Or maybe we just get lazy? Or maybe we have no internal fortitude? Or maybe......??? Here is a question: If you cannot keep a promise to yourself, to whom can you keep a promise?
Some suggestions for making and keeping New Year's Resolutions....
Here are some thoughts, nothing original, which may assist the making and keeping of resolutions, New Year's or otherwise.
1. Realistic. Resolutions need to be sensible and attainable. I could set a goal to play football in the NFL...but my 146 pound, thin body would sustain one hit and then the morgue would have me. Do not cut yourself short, but do not go after things impossible...maybe I could be a kicker in the NFL. :-)
2. Plan. Determine the proper manner in which to attain or succeed with the resolution. You know the old saying: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Plan, and Be Successful!
3. Measurable. One of the reasons we drop effort on our resolutions is because we do not have any idea if we are making progress or not. Usually we only make resolutions about things that are difficult for us to do. If the thing was easy, we would already be doing it. So if we do not have a measure of progress, it is easy to lose a sense of accomplishment.
4. Stepwise. Resolutions, like any goal, need to be broken into component pieces. That way each portion does not seem so overwhelming or unaccomplishable. It is also much easier to measure progress. If the portion or goal or step is too large, basically we are setting ourself up to fail.
5. Written. If the resolution is not written down it is not a goal. It may be a thought, a hope, a desire, or whatever, but it is not a goal. You MUST write your resolution(s) and then put them up where you will see them every day.
I have made my resolutions. 20 pages long and they cover personal, social, religious, financial, family, professional, health goals and goals related to one very special person.
MAKE YOUR GOALS FOR 2007 and then work toward them. Even if some go unaccomplished, you will have been more successful than if you life in 2007 by what I call the "Grassfire Technique of Life."