Don’t Do It.

Most New Year’s Resolutions aren’t worth the paper they’re written on – forgotten before January is over. This January consider dreaming, planning and positive thinking instead!

Think positive. Most resolutions are made in response to something negative — a habit or situation that we want to change or stop. But it’s nearly impossible to get enthused and excited about loss, to develop momentum from a negative response. It is always easier to move toward something we want than away from something we don’t. Have a goal and state it in positive terms. Lose weight becomes more energy, quit smoking becomes breathe easier and smell sweeter. You get the idea…

Dream big. Dream often. If there’s one thing I learned the hard way, losing weight and maintaining the loss must be motivated by a dream much bigger and more positive than just losing weight. I saw myself living a long and healthy life with my family. I began to act and think like someone who is in good physical shape. I took walks. Joined Yoga. Chose fruits and vegetables. There was a radical change in my thinking and then my actions. My success would not be possible without the motivation of my big dream.

Go for the sure thing. If you’re going to make a New Year’s Resolution this year, make one with a high probability for success. Make a Resolution to develop a life plan or vision. Most people are in a free-fall through life, careening from one crisis to the next. They wake up one day and 10, 20, 30 or more years have passed. With a vision or life plan you’re more apt to be excited by what the future brings even if you succeed at attaining only a small part of your plan.

A life plan must address every aspect of your life including finances, health, relationships, career, spiritual and even recreational. While we tend to focus on increasing income or decreasing debt, or losing weight or quitting smoking, the undeniable truth is that a balance of all things leads to a quality life.

If you were going to build a new house and you had this idea for an amazing master bedroom suite, you start with building the master bedroom. You’d have a complete plan before you started. When you approach resolutions and goals in the same manner, you end up with a much better chance of achieving success.