Most people don’t make New Year’s Resolutions because they never keep them.   They view them as a waste of time.   On top of that, it is discouraging and depressing when they realize they failed to keep the resolutions they made.   However, some people have a very good track record with goals and resolutions.   They view them as tools to create their future.   These people seem to accomplish more in one year than most people accomplish in 10 or 20 years.   What is the secret of their success?

The following suggestions come from Franklin Covey – the time management people.   They say resolutions begin with the end in mind.

1. Consider writing a personal mission statement before you make your resolutions.   It’s easier to keep resolutions when you’re headed in a direction you really want to go.
2. Choose resolutions based on things you can control rather than resolutions that depend on factors beyond your control.
3. Record your resolutions and share them with someone who cares about you.   Reporting your progress regularly to someone else, as well as yourself, will help you stay on target.
4. Picture yourself living the resolutions you make.   Believe in yourself.   Think about the behaviors you will change to overcome the challenges you’ll face.   Once you have created a clear mental vision of the new you, the physical reality is easier to achieve.
5. Set deadlines for yourself that help you measure your progress, and write the deadlines down.   We respond better when we have a specific deadline to meet.
6. Spend 20 to 30 minutes at the beginning of each week to block out time for your most important goals.

Unless you are a master at keeping resolutions, I suggest you start out with just one or two resolutions you know you can complete in a relatively short period of time.   There is nothing that says you cannot create another set of resolutions and/or goals in March or June or whenever.   I also suggest you break down your bigger resolutions and goals into smaller goals that are much more manageable and attainable.  

How do you eat an elephant?   One bite at a time.   The only possible way to make our BIG goals come true is to break them down into several smaller goals (bites).   We are all capable of achieving amazing things – but only if we take the right approach.   Why not enjoy the bites along the way?

Quote Worth Re-Quoting –

“Things don’t just happen.   People make them happen.”   ~ Zig Ziglar