Many of us start
out each New Year with well-intentioned resolutions. These
may be in areas of self-care like diet, or spending time with
family,
or bringing bigger changes into our lives. Some of us have
reverse resolutions like not smoking, or drinking fewer cups
of caffeine
each day. As the year progresses we may make some headway on
these lofty goals, but lack of focused attention to intention
can undo the most sincere New Year's Resolution. So how then
do we make resolutions into goals that will happen?
Rule 1: Make
only 2 resolutions
Limit yourself to 2 resolutions:
one long-term resolution to maintain the full year, and one
short-term
resolution that
will re-enforce the long term one. For example a short-term
resolution
might be: "I will not keep candy in my house. I will
take any I have to the last holiday party, or my workplace." The
long term might be: "I will create and stick to a
healthy diet".
By limiting yourself to one important
change, you insure that it remains a priority. Provide
it focused attention
and make
deliberate choices on how to support this change in your
life.
Rule 2: Make it POSITIVE
Instead of saying "I won't drink
as much caffeine," you
might say something like, "I will limit myself
to two cups of coffee in the morning. I will always
have
water or
juice available
so that I have an alternate."
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Rule 3: Arrive at
your resolution through a conscious process of deliberate
choice, and intention to bring
the change
into your life.
Many New Year's resolutions arise out
of stresses of the holiday season. Take time and look back
over the
whole
of the last year.
What one thing would you most like to see change
in the coming year? If it's difficult to choose just one,
narrow
it down
to three. Take time to think about and record what
you would need
to do to follow through on each one? Choose the one
you feel the strongest intention about, AND can see
yourself
creating
a plan for and sticking to it!
Rule 4: Contract with
yourself
Once you have chosen your resolution,
write a statement of intent. Make sure that it is one that
you can
feel viscerally...that you have a lot of energy
behind. For example: " In 2002
I will spend less time at work and more time with
my kids. I will start by delegating more work on Project
Y, and empowering
Bob and Sue." Follow it with a detailed plan
of how you implement the plan to spend more time
with the kids, including
some time targets, and some specific goals (e.g. "I
will volunteer to help/coach Amy's baseball team).
Seal one copy in an envelope to be opened 12/31/02.
Keep the other one as a living document that
you revisit weekly,
and each
time ask yourself whether you are on track. Acknowledge
your headway and make changes to the plan as
the year progresses to insure your success.
Remember the watchwords for success:
Conscious Choices Deliberate Intentions Actions
Note:
The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way
back to 153 BC. A mythical king of early Rome, Janus, was
placed at the head of the calendar.
Janus had two faces, and could look back on past events and
forward to the future. He became the ancient symbol for resolutions
and many Romans looked for forgiveness for the past year, while
looking forward to the new one.
source: Rosana Marsili, The New Year Resolution Kit
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