As 2011 draws to a close, we find ourselves busy wrapping up old tasks and thinking about the coming year. Over the next few days, people will begin making their New Year's resolutions. There will be promises to ourselves to lose weight, get out of debt, exercise more, stop smoking, spend more time with family, and numerous other avowals to improve ourselves and our lives.
For most, the lists are quite familiar and contain ambitions that have carried over from previous years. But there are those that don't bother to make any resolutions at all because they think to themselves, "What's the point? By the end of January, I will have broken all my resolutions anyway."
Resolutions often aren't achieved because we attempt to make significant changes at one time. Yes, the goals we identify are important to us, but we tend to set ourselves up for failure; not because we don't have the ability to achieve our goal, but because we don't allow ourselves to be human or imperfect. For instance, we set a resolution to change a habit or a situation that took years to create, like being overweight or smoking, but we give ourselves a very limited amount of time to reverse that situation. Too frequently, after a few insignificant setbacks, we lose focus of our goals and concede defeat. Days, weeks, and months pass . . . and we find ourselves at the beginning of a brand new year; with those same unresolved resolutions in tow.
Why is it that we feel the need to wait for the 'clean slate' of a NEW YEAR to make impactful goals for ourselves? EVERY DAY presents a new opportunity to make a positive change in your life. EVERY DAY is a clean canvas from which you have the ability create the masterpiece of your life. EVERY DAY holds the promise of a new day. EVERY DAY is afforded unlimited possibility. EVERY DAY is the first day of the rest of your life.
For most, the lists are quite familiar and contain ambitions that have carried over from previous years. But there are those that don't bother to make any resolutions at all because they think to themselves, "What's the point? By the end of January, I will have broken all my resolutions anyway."
"People often say that motivation doesn't last.
Well, neither does bathing -- that's why we recommend it daily."
- Zig Ziglar
Resolutions often aren't achieved because we attempt to make significant changes at one time. Yes, the goals we identify are important to us, but we tend to set ourselves up for failure; not because we don't have the ability to achieve our goal, but because we don't allow ourselves to be human or imperfect. For instance, we set a resolution to change a habit or a situation that took years to create, like being overweight or smoking, but we give ourselves a very limited amount of time to reverse that situation. Too frequently, after a few insignificant setbacks, we lose focus of our goals and concede defeat. Days, weeks, and months pass . . . and we find ourselves at the beginning of a brand new year; with those same unresolved resolutions in tow.
I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the years'.
- Henry Moore
