New Year’s Resolutions: Do You Follow Through?
If there’s one thing I learned in 2010, it’s that if you really want to see something happen, you have to commit with all your heart to MAKING it happen. In other words, you have to act on it, every day. You have to make it a priority in your life and be willing to sacrifice in order to reach the ultimate goal. You have to follow through.
Knowing from the beginning that it isn’t going to be easy helps. It isn’t supposed to be easy. But whatever your resolution is, it IS possible for you to follow through and succeed.
To welcome in the new year and new resolutions, I thought I’d share some tips that help me with goal-setting and follow through that hopefully will be of use to you in 2011, too:
- I have an ongoing list of goals and once I’ve written something down on this goal sheet, I know I will commit to making it happen, even if it takes longer than anticipated. I would rather eat chicken gizzards (gag me) than to mark off a goal on this list without having actually succeeded, and so writing it down is a proven way for me to make sure that it will get done. I’ve heard of other people keeping a goal written down someplace where they will see it every single day, such as on a white board on the back of their bedroom door or on their refrigerator. Find a place where the message can’t be ignored, and write your goals down.
- Accountability can also play a key role in success. I recently created a women’s networking group consisting of 5 bubbly, creative, supportive young ladies. We exist primarily to help each other succeed. I know that if I state my goals at one of our meetings, these extraordinary ladies would not be quick to let me back down. So find someone in your life who won’t let you give up and let that person help hold you accountable for reaching your goals.
- Here’s another trick I use sometimes with goal-setting: under-promise and over-deliver. You’ve heard of this, right? One of the greatest feelings ever is when you over-achieve your goals! So for instance, if you want to lose 20 pounds in 6 months, set your goal at 15 pounds and then enjoy the thrill of exceeding it. Or if you want to start blogging once a day, set the goal at every other day and then exceed it. Being ahead of the game boosts my energy so that I end up even farther ahead and am eager to do more! (Just be sure if you decide to try this out, that you don't stop once you reach your lesser goal--or you've defeated the purpose!)
Best of luck with your new year's resolutions! I hope you've made good ones :-)
Happy 2011, everyone!!!
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