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“Resolutions” is the buzz word of the first week of January. A new year is a fresh start, and this is the year you will reach your goals! Sadly for many, the momentum and positive outlook doesn’t survive the month of January once the holidays are over and the dreariness of winter sets in.
You cannot let the statistics stop you from achieving your goals. Change is possible! It takes the right mindset and action to make it a reality. Hal Elrod’s book The Miracle Morning has inspired so many to make positive changes in their lives by investing in their own personal development. If you haven’t read it, this book is incredibly motivating. Elrod explains, “One of the primary reasons most people fail to create and sustain new habits is because they don’t know what to expect, and they don’t have a winning strategy.” Habits are the building blocks for achieving a goal because consistent, intentional action is what gets you to the finish line.
Today, I’m giving you seven keys to creating a winning strategy for making your resolutions stick.
1. Don’t define yourself by your past failures.
This is especially important for new year’s resolutions because statistics show people often make the same resolutions year after year because they have failed to follow through on their goals. Why is that? Our natural tendency is to hold on to our past. When it comes to reaching goals, holding on to past failures gives you a defeated attitude before you even start. Instead, embrace the possibility of success. You have to truly believe that you can do it. This time you will be successful!
2. Envision the life of your dreams.
The most vital part of this key is that it must be your dream, not someone else’s. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of someone else’s dreams shared on social media. Pinterest is filled with lists of goals, and friends sharing so much of their lives on Facebook can lead you to set goals based on the actions and desires of others. This then leads to goals that aren’t relevant or realistic for your current time of life, which can again be setting up for failure. Choose resolutions based on your life and your greatest desires for change.
3. Have a plan.
“Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Making resolutions a reality won’t happen by accident. You need an actionable game plan. Do your research for success stories of others who have accomplished the same goal and gather tips from their methods. Schedule specific goal-related tasks on your calendar at specific times to make progress towards your goals. I often do this. I review my list of goals and choose actions I can take this week to make them happen and add them to my daily calendar in my bullet journal and my business planner.
4. Keep your goals visible.
Print copies of your goals on brightly-colored paper and place them where you will see them each day. For example, post them on or near your bathroom mirror so you can read through them while you are brushing your teeth. You can also add your goals list as a wallpaper, lock screen or screensaver of your phone or computer. Put them somewhere you will not just see them but will really notice them. You can even set up calendar alerts on your phone to remind you to work towards your goals.
5. Celebrate your progress.
New Year’s resolutions are often lofty goals. Our culture has ingrained instant gratification into us so we want to see results now, but that’s rarely possible when working towards big dreams. Instead, celebrate your progress, no matter how small, because it’s a step in the right direction. Maybe it’s losing one pound or feeling sore after a workout. Whatever it is, take notice and be glad that you are finally doing something to change your life, and that, if you keep going, big results are getting closer and closer.
6. Find an accountability partner.
Many studies have highlighted the benefits of having an accountability partner. When you are reporting your progress to someone else, you are more likely to carry out the necessary actions needed so that you actually have something to report. We don’t like to let others down, even though letting ourselves down seems all to easy. Have someone you know will support you keep tabs on your goals and the progress you’re making towards them. You can even find someone who is striving for the same goal and partner together to encourage one another and keep each other accountable.
7. Change your thinking.
Lastly, but most importantly, you have to change the way you think, or particularly what you tell yourself. Even if we wouldn’t admit it, we all talk to ourselves. You can process thoughts by having a conversation in your head or give yourself a peptalk before facing a challenging task. Our own lack of belief in ourselves can lead us to provide negative commentary about positive changes we are trying to make in our lives. Resolutions often focus on changes that would impact our lives in a major way, such as losing a significant amount of weight or quitting smoking. But change is never easy and our own minds seem to rebel at the thought.
How do you change your thinking? You must replace it with positive affirmations that support you and your goals. For example, say to yourself, “I can do this. I am confident that I will improve my life by doing ____ (a task related to your goal). I am committed to doing whatever it takes to reach my goals.” You can find many more examples by searching for “positive affirmations” on the Internet. If you tell yourself these things every day, you will begin to reprogram your thoughts in a positive way that supports your goals rather than sabotages them.
I want this to be the year that real change is made and your resolutions aren’t left behind before spring arrives. What can you do today that is a step in the right direction? Add it to your calendar. Tell a friend. Remind yourself that you really can do this.
What New Year’s resolutions have you made? Are these goals you’ve attempted in the past? I would love to hear your responses!