Goal Setting: New Year’s Resolutions
   

Every January 1st, millions of individuals make a pledge to themselves to make specific changes in their lives. By February, most people's goals have begun to languish, if not altogether dissolved. What makes New Year's resolutions so very hard to keep? Why does it become so difficult to keep the momentum going? Oftentimes, the problem is simply that our goals are too lofty, too unrealistic, too out of reach. We set ourselves up for failure by setting goals that are very difficult to achieve.

So how can you beat the odds and keep your New Year's resolutions? The best way to succeed in keeping your New Year's resolutions is to come up with a plan. Construct a strategy for success. Here are a few guidelines for making things happen.

First, spend some time contemplating your goals before acting. Many individuals tend to operate out of a vague sense of dissatisfaction with the way things are going in their lives. Achieving your goals often demands that you take a time out from your life to seriously examine your life trajectory. Be honest about what you want. What do you really want? When answering these questions, you will have to put aside the needs of your family members, friends, and personal relationships. You must be honest with yourself. Also ask yourself, "What has kept me from achieving my goals"? What are you most afraid of? This period of contemplation is paramount to realizing your goals. If you simply act before thinking, chances are you will begin the process of realizing your goals unprepared. You will run into obstacles and abandon your goals when the going gets tough. By contemplating your desires and motivation beforehand, you are more likely to be prepared to encounter the obstacles and challenges you will probably face.

Second, you should concentrate on one resolution at a time. Many people tend to make numerous resolutions, or lump several resolutions into one large category. Be specific about what you want. Write it all down. The power of articulating and putting down in print your resolutions can be surprisingly powerful. It is very important that you be as specific as possible. Don't make a promise to spend more time with your family or become a more healthy person. Instead, pledge to spend two more hours a week with your family. If weight loss if your goal, resolve to lose two pounds a week. Be specific and realistic.

Once you begin to pursue your goal, set up a system of accountability designed to keep you on track. Many people abandon their New Year's resolutions because they simply forget the pledge they made at the start of the year. Setting up a system of personal accountability ensures that you keep your goal at the front of your mind. Create a nurturing support system made up of friends and family members. Research shows that people who are successful at realizing their goals feel a sense of responsibility to keep going. They made a pledge to themselves and others, and feel more pressure to keep their resolution. Communicate your intentions to friends and family. Tell them about your New Year's resolutions. Explain what you are trying to accomplish, and why. Enlist their support. Encourage them to help keep you on task. But remember that ultimately, success lies in your hands. Also, you should not be afraid of exposing vulnerabilities or perceived weaknesses. Rather, you will find that most people will admire you for preparing to achieve your goals.

Another important consideration in working towards your New Year's resolutions is that you must start off small. Expect the process to be difficult. Make it as easy as possible to begin. Start by making small changes. If you are trying to lose weight, begin by integrating short exercise routines into your schedule. The smaller you start, the better the chances that you will keep going. This will allow you to cultivate a sense of change in your life. Drastic or massive changes in your life will be too difficult to keep going for a sustained period of time. Start off small, and keep going.

Finally, almost all individuals who successfully achieve their New Year's resolutions have chosen goals that they are passionate about. In order to be successful, you need to cultivate a sense of passion about your resolution. If you are not passionate about achieving your resolution, you will be more likely to abandon it.

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by SolveYourProblem.com : 2006

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