New Year's Resolutions

   Welcome to 2015!  The New Year is a poignant time of new beginnings.  It’s that time when many of us make resolutions to improve our lives.  Now I have to admit that I’m not fond of the term “resolutions.”  Why?  Because the word sounds so heavy handed and legalistic.  I suggest using the much simpler and achievable word “goals.”  But if you prefer using the term resolutions, that’s just fine.  What I ask of you then is to please look at the word and see that what it really says is re-solutions.  In other words, resolutions are our opportunity to find new solutions to those desires and wishes we hold dear. 

   Now that’s a crucial key.  Are the goals you’re setting for the New Year, or any time of year, dear to your heart?  Are they goals you sincerely want for yourself?  Or are they goals your family or spouse wants you to have?  Or goals that society has imposed upon you?  The only goals that truly have a chance for success are those that are personally meaningful to you.

   The first rule of thumb with resolutions or goals is to get quiet internally and tune into your heart.  What is your heart’s desire?  What’s your mission?  What do you really want to accomplish in your life over the course of this year?  Once you’ve established your goal, write it down.  Let’s say your goal is to lose 30 pounds this year.  Great!  Then ask yourself, why do you want to lose the weight?  What’s underneath that desire?  Is it that you want to look fantastic?  Is it that you want to attract a mate?  Is it that you want to feel energetic?  Or that you need to control your diabetes?  Understanding what’s really at the core of your goal is the key to achieving it.  So reframe your resolution or goal by stating the real purpose you have in mind and write that down. 

   Next, be sure you’ve phrased your resolution or goal so that it’s a positive statement.  Losing weight is really a negative statement.  Here’s why: while the intention behind the statement to lose weight is meant to be positive, the reality is we don’t like losing things.  That makes us feel like, well, losers.  But what we really like is to gain things.  We like finding things.  We’re built to take action towards things, rather than to battle against something.  So that’s why it’s so important to understand what’s at the core of your goal, what’s the real desire, and stating it in a positive way.  Because then you’re motivated and inspired to take action.  And taking action is the only way you will achieve your goals and resolutions.  And you need to connect to that motivation and inspiration because along the way to achieving your goal you can be assured that things will get tough and there will be obstacles to overcome.  It’s the connection to your source of inspiration – your true desire – that will keep you going when things get tough. 

   We’ll continue our conversation about goals and achieving success next time, so stayed tuned.  And in the meantime, please enjoy this podcast about New Year’s resolutions from Super Talk Radio Mississippi when I was interviewed by Kipp Gregory of the JT Show. 

   Wishing you a Happy New Year!  Please share your thoughts and comments about New Year’s “resolutions” and your special goals for 2015.