Not Sure You Can Keep Your New Year's Resolutions?
Here are a few tips to stay on track when the going gets tough.
January is the time when people resolve to stop smoking, get a better job, lose weight, and hundreds of other wanted changes in their lives. Unfortunately, according to national statistics, only five percent will actually accomplish any kind of lasting change.
The problem? Resolutions are nice little wishes that are quickly forgotten in the hustle-bustle of everyday living. To make real changes in your life, there needs to be a process of easy steps that move you methodically in the direction of your goals.
Here are several suggestions to help you define and sharpen your actions. Add a little commitment and the future can truly be what you choose to make it.
Dream big. It's only natural to have some level of fear about making changes in your life. For some, their fear is based on believing they'll have to put their financial security at risk. But exploring your passion doesn't have to lead you to the poorhouse. There is uncertainty in exploring anything new. But if you take your journey of discovery step-by-step, you'll arrive at decision points along the way - places to either move forward (because you're more sure of yourself or have more knowledge and experience), or modify your goals to accommodate the need for more time and resources.
Invite questions into your life. Motivational speaker Tony Robbins often cites the reason people end up in places and circumstances they don't like is because they're not asking the right questions. Questions make us uncomfortable. And that's the point. They allow us to discover what needs to be changed in our lives. Here are some examples:
Am I where I thought I would be at this point in my life?
What resources do I have that I may not have realized were available to me?
Which areas (spiritual, health, relationships, money) of my life could use some improvement to bring me more into balance?
Don't wait for "all green lights." Prior to automation of the New York City subway system, conductors were given a "green light" to travel a length of track, and then slow or stop the train until the next section of track became clear or "green." Conductors knew that waiting for the entire route to turn "all green" would mean the train would never move.
Do what you know you can do right now. Later steps may not be apparent to you yet, so don't try to anticipate what you don't know. Many successful people have admitted they didn't know enough to be overwhelmed or discouraged and simply struck out with a desire and commitment to succeed.
Let enthusiasm and happiness guide your journey. Let your goals be a source of promise for a better future. Review them daily and make new notes based upon your progress and what needs to be done next.
Don't let age restrict your dreams. Instead of anticipating retirement, the current group of fifty-plus-year-olds are re-examining their lives, moving to new cities, trying new lifestyles, and learning new ways of living. The most important outcome of these changes? Many are realizing they needed those first fifty years to discover their real purpose in life.
Make sure the goals you set are really yours. Those who set goals to impress family, friends, or business associates usually find themselves disappointed in the long-term. Personal goals should serve and benefit your desired outcome.
Don't let money goals misguide your real purpose in life. Setting a goal of having enough money to pay all the bills at the end of the month describes a problem, not a goal. And while having more money is often the desired result of setting new financial goals, increasing your financial freedom should be the result of accomplishing a specific life change (a new career, learning new skills, starting your own business, etc.)
Decide that now is the time to take action. None of us want a life filled with boredom or frustration, but it's easy to do. The years pass quickly and before we know it, we've settled into a comfortable rut. Maybe you've been too busy responding to life's little emergencies and can't seem to get back on track. But we each receive a very limited number of years to accomplish our dreams. Your first goal should be to do the most with the time you have left.
In health & happiness,
Amazon | Real Life Newsletter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Website | Mastodon | Writers Perch Newsletter
Jill Reid is the author of Real Life, Discover Your Personal Truth, Life in Small Doses, and Please God, Make Me A Writer. Her books, videos, and newsletter explore life, relationships, self-improvement, health, and personal success strategies for working through the challenges of everyday life.