What if this year, you not only kept your New Year's Resolution but exceeded the outcome you had planned on? What if you could find the key to all that empowers you reach your other goals? Of course you want to know the answer - and it is - focusing on YOU! What if each day you spent valuable time with yourself so that you had that much more to give to others, yourself and your goals? This could be time to relax and reflect, exercise and rejuvenate or connect socially with people close to you.
One of the premises that we discover and recognize in coaching others, is that most people put their relationship with themselves as dead last! Keeping resolutions we make with ourselves is often the first to go in the hustle and bustle of all of the commitments on our plate.
Here are the top 10 areas that most people make as their resolutions (in no particular order). Interesting how they tend to be the same year after year. One could assert that we're not been very successful - if we were all reaching our resolutions, one would expect some new resolutions coming into the mix. Yet, these remain the most popular:
- Focus on important relationships
- Find someone special
- Get organized
- Reduce debt and save money
- Quit smoking
- Go somewhere
- Make a difference
- Get in shape
- Get a better job
- Go back to school
The following shows how many of these resolutions are maintained as time goes on:
- past the first week: 75%
- past 2 weeks: 71%
- after one month: 64%
- after 6 months: 46%
So, if you find yourself struggling to keep your New Year's resolutions, you are certainly not alone!
Here are some pointers that may assist you in actually accomplishing the goals you have declared for yourself.
- Hire a Coach!! This is the most fail-proof method of staying on track and being held accountable to create the life you love.
- Create a pro and con list. This can be a strong motivation for you, a reminder as to why you declared it in the first place. Keep it with you when you need a reminder.
- Be realistic. Ensure that your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, risking, and within a specific time frame (S.M.A.R.T. goals).
- Talk about it. Create support for yourself and declare the best case scenario to have what you want. Find an accountability buddy who is committed to you having what you want.
- Track your progress. There are many ways to do so; journaling, on-line tools, etc. Find one that works best for you. Each small success will assist you to stay on track.
- Don't beat yourself up. Obsessing over an occasional slip will absolutely sabotage your achievement of your goal. There is tried and true wisdom in 12-step progra
ms' "one day at a time." - Keep going for it. Some say it takes 21 days to create a new habit, so simply stick to it.
- Reward yourself. Celebrate your successes by treating yourself to something you enjoy that doesn't contradict your resolution, i.e. a box of chocolates for losing 5 pounds ~ not good!
It's never too early in the year (or too late, for that matter) to contemplate, plan and initiate positive change. And while an official New Year's resolution brings with it a clear opportunity to look at your life from a broader perspective, the reality is that these opportunities are available at all times. So what are you waiting for?
You must, must do something fabulous and outrageous for
YOURSELF! What have you been putting off "UNTIL..."? Your assignment is to take action on that item this week!
To continue to receive Diva Points on enhancing your relationship with yourself and others...join me at
Diva Points at
My Source Point Community. Share your relationship questions - personal relationships and professional relationships - and I'll share my thoughts, pointers and provide you with great tools to support you in creating intentional, trusting relationships in your life.
Would you like support and coaching on your assignment - bring it to
Diva Points, where we can be fabulous and outrageous together! See you there!!
