No one keeps New Year’s Resolutions, so what’s the point, right? Well, actually, some people DO keep their resolutions. Research shows a HUGE rate of success!
Ok, not huge…
Ok, tiny…
Ok, 8%
What?! Why bother?
Hey, why can’t you be part of the 8%?
What if there are ways to greatly increase the chance that you are in the 8%? What if it could put you on a path to Your Best Life?
Another year is going to go by whether you change your life or not. One year from now will you look back at how much better it is, or will you be exactly where you are right now?
Resolutions – good resolutions, anyway – are just another way of saying goals. So why not set some goals – the right way – that could change your life?
Here’s what works:
- Believe you can: Common sense and research shows if you don’t believe you can be one of the 8% you won’t be. Hey, someone has to be, why not you?
- Start small then go big: Pick the top 2 or 3 things that are most important to you. Long lists will sabotage your success for any of them. We can only change so much, so fast.
- Be Specific: Come up with exactly what you want. No generalities or estimates allowed.
- Create action plans to get there: Start with the finished goal. Then, plan backwards what you need to do to each month of the year to achieve it. Create daily action plans to get there.
- Make it real easy to measure your success: Definite and measurable goals are what work.
- State your goals in the present tense: Your subconscious responds best to the present tense. There should be no doubt that you are going to reach your goal. So write it, think about it, and talk about it as if you already have it.
- State your goals positively: Your brain doesn’t do well with negative commands. Quick—DON’T think about a flying purple elephant. Hey, I told you NOT to think about it. It’s impossible now, isn’t it? That’s how our brain works. So phrase your goal in the positive. Say what you want, not what you don’t want. Your mind responds positively to what you think about all day long.
- Give yourself a deadline: Figure out how long it should take to reach your goal and then set the deadline. It will keep you focused.
- Actually write your goals down: (otherwise they’re just dreams) There’s something almost magical about writing your goals down. Writing helps you organize and prioritize your thoughts. It helps you filter out the fluff and get serious. It helps make your goals real to you in a way that just thinking about them can’t. Post your goals in your bathroom. Put them on 3 x 5 cards in your wallet or purse. Read them every morning and every night. Think about them all day.
- Get Accountable: Find a trustworthy, supportive friend and agree to be each other’s accountability partners. Check in at least once a week with each other to make sure you’re staying on track.
- Celebrate: Set up mini-goals and celebrate every time you hit one. Refocus on why you’re doing this and keep going. That’s how you start small and then go big.
Before you start, you need to know exactly what you want. What’s most important to you and why? Here’s one way to start figuring it out.
Your mission tonight… if you choose to accept it.
Spend one half hour of your limited time writing down what your best life would look like. Done correctly, this is an extremely uplifting exercise. Just organizing and prioritizing your best life can increase your happiness, optimism, and belief that you can accomplish your goals.
When you answer these questions, remember, you’re in Fantasyland. No limits. That’s when our best ideas come.
If you had all the money in the world, how would you spend your time?
What would your perfect day look, feel, sound, smell, taste, and be like? Describe it in as vivid detail as you can.
What activities set your soul on fire?
What would you do if it were impossible to fail?
What would your career be?
What would your marriage be like?
What would your income be?
How much free time would you have?
Where would you live?
How many people could you help?
What would you do even if you didn’t get paid to do it?
What type of relationships would you have with your children?
What would your relationship be with God?
Where would you travel for vacations?
How many vacations would you take each year?
What would you have crossed off your bucket list?
How much would you give away to charity each year?
What would your spiritual life be like?
Where would you volunteer?
How much would you weigh?
What would your physical health be?
Would you play an instrument, speak a foreign language, or know how to dance?
What groups would you belong to?
How would you treat people?
How would people treat you?
These are just some questions to get you started. Come up with some of your own and design your best life.
Question for comments: What questions do you need to ask yourself to get to your best life?
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that I view as rude, snarky, mean or off-topic. Hey, this is to support each other and have fun! Let's Go!