Guide to Setting Resolutions that Work

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

Question: Have you set your New Year’s resolutions yet? What are you waiting for? How do you intend to create a life you’ll love this year?

Action Challenge: It seems that setting new year’s resolutions have become a thing of the past for many. Most likely it’s because too many times people set them and they don’t work (more in another blog post about why that is). But what if you had a plan to insure they’d work? 

If the nagging feeling in the pit of your stomach - you know, the one that keeps reminding you of your past resolution failures - has been keeping you from setting your intentions for creating a life you’ll love, then get ready… because I’m here to tell you that this is the year for real change. And I’m not talking about just saying you are going to make some changes; I’m talking about taking action and really changing.   

Follow the steps below to draft your resolutions and goals. Then get ready to make this year different!

Define Your Values:  If you’re going to make positive changes in your life, doesn’t it make sense to make those changes based on what’s really important to you? (After all, if the pandemic has taught us anything it’s that life is short, and we really miss what we value most when we lose it.) So begin by sitting quietly, close your eyes, breathe deeply and connect with what you value most in your life. For many people it’s their family, career, health, relationships, faith, etc. But what matters here is what and who is important to you. Get specific about what you value and define those values clearly for yourself. 

Break It Down:  Do a little inventory of what you need in order to be certain your highest values are growing and thriving in your life. A fun way to do this is to take the values you’ve come up with, write them down and draw a circle around each one. From that circle, make branches coming from the circle that indicate each necessary component of that value. For example, if you value being healthy, your branches might include such things as meditation, exercise, healthy eating, water, rest, etc. Make the length of the branch match the strength of that component. Then look for the branches that aren’t thriving. These are likely the branches you need to nurture so your value can flourish.

Be Aware:  Change and transformation begin with awareness. And awareness comes with honesty and clarity. However, our own denial often keeps us numb to the awareness of what must change in our lives. And we let fear cloud our clarity about what we know deep down we truly want. So, before you go on, check yourself here and be truly honest about these things. Once you’ve allowed yourself to become aware of where you are now, what you aren’t happy or content about and what might be holding you back that needs to change so you can get to where you want to go, then you can move on to the next step.

Set Your Resolutions:  Now you’re ready to set your resolutions or goals based on what’s important and how you can get there or change to improve them. Really spend some time on this part. Many people think that setting SMART goals is an antiquated way to set goals. But when done well, it really does work. So let the components of making SMART goals be your guide. (Not sure what these are? The Achieve Success System is your answer.) As you consider each value in your life and the change you desire to make, be sure that each component is a part of your plan. If you can have specific, measurable, reachable goals you will be able to take action and get them accomplished in a timely manner. 

Take Action:  It might seem silly, but this is the part that many people leave out. It’s much easier to plan out how you’ll change, then to actually take action and really do it. It’s true that often times people act without having a plan and they fail, but if you plan and never act, you will surely not succeed. So, focus on what you value and step into action. Oh, and here’s a little tip, actions that have all the components of a SMART goal are the best kind of actions to take if you want to succeed at a higher level.

Get Support:  Making changes happen in your life can be difficult. And trying to do it alone can be even harder. So, it’s always helpful to share your goals with others who have the same interests. I highly recommend joining a group or enlisting the help of someone you know to support you and hold you accountable. Remember the African Proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together."    

Don’t let another year go by without creating the changes in your life that you deeply desire so that what you value most can thrive and flourish. It’s time to take action! Good luck with those New Year’s resolutions! 

Make this year be the year you start living your best life. As a high-performance coach, I specialize in helping individuals create transformation and success in their lives so they can reach their goals and live to their full potential. And right now you have the opportunity to come along with me as I guide a group of excited individuals who are ready to create big changes in their lives. Join us and together, you can go far. This might be just the boost you need!  

Join the Success Mastery Group Today!