I personally, am not a fan of New Year's Resolutions. Mainly because I used to break my own resolutions all the time when I was big, and the statistics generally bear out that they don't tend to last. For me, if you are happy to do something, whatever that may be, then you don't need the calendar to say January 1st to allow it to happen.

 

Instead, I like to look back for a short period, at everything I did this year.

 

Firstly, think back over the past twelve months. Think of all the things you have done that you have enjoyed. All the things you planned and then delivered on. All the ideas you had that you then made reality. Ideally, write down a long list of things that you did really well. This year was a long year, you may even have little things like "painted the front door in June". Whatever you come up with is your own success list.

 

Ok, you have your success list. The list for everyone will be huge if you really start to think about everything you did in 12 months and should remind you of just how fantastic you are when you decide to do something.

 

Now think of what you want to achieve over the next 12 months. What do you want to do in 2009 that you could then tick off as "done" at the end of next year? It doesn't have to be weight related, it can be anything at all. I know, for me, I have on my list to publish three books. I know what the first two are, but I haven't a clue what the third one is going to be yet! I just know I want to write it and so, it is on my list!

 

It may also be some real life goals. Get to go somewhere you always wanted to go, or meet someone you always wanted to meet. Let your imagination run totally wild in terms of what you would like to do!

 

Ok, when you have that list, order it! Which ones would you like to do more than others, which is the number one thing you want for next year, then number it ! Do that for the first five so you have the "BIG FIVE" that you will do in 2009.

 

Now then!! Time for a plan....

 

Loads of people will say things like "I want to lose weight in 2009" but then they have no plan to actually do that, and remember that any dream is just a dream unless you actually take action.

 

So write down a plan for each of the five tasks. What do you need to do? How will you know when you have it? Can you achieve it yourself, or do you need help? Where would that help come from? And the key one, what is going to stop you having what you really want?

 

Ok,you have a plan! Imagine yourself in late 2009 now. You have that list of five things. Now do you believe that you will really do all those five things? Does your gut feeling say you will have done it or not? If you think you won't achieve them then what limiting belief do you have about yourself that will stop them happening?

 

The key to any plan is to know what you want and then go have fun and actually do it.

 

You have the BIG FIVE which is what you really want. What stops you starting the plan today, before January 1st? What if you had a Saturday 27th December 2008 Resolution day! If you really want anything then the sooner you start the sooner you get the result.

 

Whatever your BIG FIVE are, then I hope you have the most amazing and fun 2009 achieving them. I expect us to be here in twelve months comparing our five, seeing which ones we did first and which ones we completed just in time for Xmas 2009.

 

Have a great weekend

 

Mike :-)

 

P.S.

 

My BIG FIVE for 2009 are

 

1) Publish two books and work closely with Steve to start making a real difference in the dieting industry by getting people to realise it is never about the food and that the key to long term maintenance is in your mind and not what you have on your plate. Continue to train other counsellors in the industry as well as do workshops and programmes for the dieters themselves. Ultimately, the dieter is the expert in all of this and the person who can really deliver the result.

 

2) To change my day job.

 

3) To spend more time with Jo and the kids, and make sure that I am the best husband and Dad I can be, which is ultimately why I work as hard as I do to secure their futures.

 

4) To extend the house to give us more space.

 

5) To start my journey into becoming an actor! I always wanted to get into acting as a child but ended up becoming an IT manager instead so this year I will join a theatre company in my spare time and get involved in the industry at a "hobby" level.

 

P.S.S.

 

Send me your BIG FIVE for 2009 to Mike@NoWillPowerRequired.Co.Uk so we can compare lists ! It also means you will have to actually do the exercise above which means you will get real benefit in terms of realising what you actually want in your life in the next year.