Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions
Have you traveled down that well-worn path of good intentions? Hmmm, how many of these resolutions have you actually kept longer than a few weeks? So how can this year be different? How can you make a resolution, keep it, and be a better person for it? Get off to a successful start with these tips:
Create a Plan: Determine what is your goal. Be realistic, but don’t sell yourself short. Goals are something to reach for, not something easily within your grasp. Now write down your plan in a notebook or journal in ink. It is wishful thinking that you can accomplish your goals without a plan.
Be committed: Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity, such as exercising, to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of your personality. Each day of perseverance brings you closer to your dream.
Connect with others with similar goals: Form a support group of same-minded people. Hold them to their choices and expect them to do the same with you. Receiving an enthusiastic phone call or email may be just the encouragement you need to stay the course.
Track your progress – Give yourself a high five as you maintain steady progress. Reward yourself in healthy ways as you meet mini-goals.
Be prepared for setbacks – Remember the saying that Rome wasn’t conquered in a day? Realize that you are human and that there will be days where you slip up. Don’t let it be an excuse to give up. Go back and review your plan, ask for encouragement from family or friends and get started again. Remember that while it may have only taken a moment or two to choose a resolution, it is going to take much more time to be successful.
Lastly, remain flexible. Life is a joyous experience and every day is not scripted from beginning to end. Circumstances may arise where you need to take a step back from your resolution (provided that it won’t cause harm to your health, of course). Staying flexible will help you to feel that you do have options and that step away from your resolution is not necessarily a step away from meeting your goals.
There is an expression about the road paved with good intentions. But recognize that self-change is one of the most difficult things we can do. Each day is a fresh start to pick up again and travel down the road less traveled; the road that leads to the fulfillment of your goals. Success breeds success, not just for the New Year but all year.
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