Happy 2013! Make Resolutions That Work This New Year!
We’ve already talked about making happiness your No.1 resolution for 2013. But let’s take a look at resolutions in general. Look around you. Every person you see who has lost weight and kept it off, given up smoking, finished writing a novel, completed a course of study or bought a house made a resolution. Chances are they didn’t wait for New Year to come along to do it either. There is no doubt that resolutions can be catalysts for putting our feet on a wonderful and more abundant soul path. But why is it then that so many people fail? The problem is many of us make our resolutions in the wrong way – just as we set goals in the wrong way. Hang on a minute, – aren’t resolutions and goals the same thing, you may ask. The fact is – they are similar but actually very different. Let’s say your goal for 2013 is to lose 30 pounds. If that is your resolution you are setting yourself up for failure before you even start. You have to take your goal – to lose 30lbs and then chop it up into easy stages. So, taking weight loss as your goal your resolutions could be finding a gym, following a better eating program, cutting down (not cutting out) on the things you know put weight on, creating a healthier lifestyle over the longer term. All these stages are resolutions.
The great thing about turning your goals into resolutions is that each time we take action on one stage we move onto the next – so this gives us a feeling of empowerment and that we are making progress rather than feeling overwhelmed.
The fabulous thing about resolutions is that you can make them all year long. You don’t have to wait for New Years. Don’t forget – Buddhism and other spiritual practices teach that every moment is a new beginning.
Also remember that your goals and resolutions don’t exist in isolation – and neither do you. If you goal is to manage your money better and to save to start a business or buy a home, then you need to think twice before heading out to the mall with those friends you know are shopaholics. And just like goal setting, we have to phrase our resolutions in the right way. We all know that saying ‘I don’t have enough money’ is not the way to tap into the universal abundance. Saying you want to ‘be more spiritual’ is a terrible resolution although it is motivated by the very best intentions. How will you know when you have achieved your goal? Saying you want to ‘be more spiritual’ is a terrible resolution although it is motivated by the very best intentions. How will you know when you have achieved your goal? A resolution needs to be something do-able and which you know for certain you have achieved. ‘Meditate more’ also doesn’t work. ‘I will meditate each morning for 10 minutes’ however is a wonderful resolution!
Above all, keep the steps small. Yes, our goals and dreams are signposts set by our souls so we can realise our potential. But the thing is, every journey starts with a single step. One small step after another is what gets us to our destination. If you have 30lbs to lose then set yourself the goal of losing five pounds in a month to start with.
Finally – keep going. Marathon runners keep running because they continually focus on the next signpost – they pick a house, a tree, a lamppost in the distance and tell themselves they will reach that. When they do, they pick another one. Above all, don’t wait for the New Year or set a start date. Almost every person who has achieved their resolutions began the moment they set them. Don’t say ‘I’ll start that diet Monday’ so you can binge on all your favourite foods over the weekend. The goal is not to set yourself up to fail – you are allowed your favourite foods but perhaps mixed with healthier ones and a more active lifestyle. When you set a resolution begin it now.
Our higher selves want us to be able to fulfil our potential and our resolutions reflect that potential. Help yourself reach it by approaching your resolutions in stages and remember to celebrate each signpost to your goal along the way.
