 For many of
us, the upcoming New Year means it’s time to start making those New Year’s resolutions.
Every year, millions of people declare their most ambitious goals, hoping to
achieve a significant milestone or overcome a bad habit. Unfortunately, most
resolutions are forgotten by February. Indeed, most of us have the best
intentions, but actually turning those intentions into a reality proves too big
of a challenge. Although
things may not have worked out well in the past in respect to your resolutions,
there is no reason to assume that they never will. New Year’s resolutions can still
be a very positive resource. They can provide an opportunity to evaluate your
progress in life. Furthermore, they can invigorate your life with inspiring
challenges and wonderful experiences to look forward to. Here are a
few guidelines that can help this year’s resolutions stick. 1. Give it meaning. Is your resolution worthwhile, or
is it trivial? Sure it would be nice to have a perfect body, or a lavish
mansion, but are these the things you should realistically seek? The wise
person understands the folly of shallow obsessions like material wealth,
personal power, and perfect bodies. A meaningful resolution might sound something
like: “I will get healthy so I can spend
more time with my family and friends,” or “I will stop being so wasteful so
that I can do my part to help the environment.” 2. Be honest and realistic with
expectations.
Unrealistic expectations can undermine your efforts. Unrealistic expectations can
make your goal appear unattainable; therefore, you may be more prone to give up
completely. Set realistic, short term goals to better ensure that you will
reach them. 3. Go public. You will most definitely need
support to make your resolution happen. So, tell everyone around you—your
spouse, kids, co-workers, boss, etc—about your intentions. Once they know your
goals, they will be better able to help you achieve them. In the end,
New Year’s resolutions will continue to be a challenge for many of us. However,
just because they’re a challenge, doesn’t mean they’re not attainable. If
you’re really serious about this year’s resolutions, follow the strategies
above, and you will be that much closer to success. |