The following article was written by a colleague of mine. I hope you find it helpful in your determination to keep up with your resolutions.
Enjoy!
Resolving to Resolve
By Kim Leatherdale, ATR, LPC
People use the turning of the year as a time to make changes in their lives; however, less than a quarter of resolutions come to fruition. Here is a list of ten ways you can help your New Year’s resolution succeed.
1. Examine your resolution. Ask yourself who you are doing this for; the answer should be you. Make sure you feel energized and excited by the resolution, not frustrated by the thought of it. If you feel negative about it before you even start, you will never finish. If you have failed multiple times on this goal, how can you change it so it motivates you?
2. Write your goal down. All good planners know writing something down helps it happen. As you write put some thought into it, look at what exactly you want to achieve, and make it specific.
3. Make it a commitment not just a maybe. Put your energy into making it happen. Having a clearly stated resolution helps. For example: “I will have X amount of money in the bank by the end of the year” is more motivating than “I want to save money.”
4. Tell others and check in with them. Find positive supportive people who will ask you how your steps are coming. Plan to meet with them regularly, even via email. Talk with others who are strongly working on their resolutions; help each other.
5. Make a step by step plan including timetables. Once you have a clear goal stated, you can break it into steps, a perfect way to track your progress over the year. In the money example, you divide the total amount into fourths and check your account every three months to see if you have made your quarterly goal.
6. Remind yourself daily of your goal. If you are computer savvy, have your computer prompt you each time you sign-on. Tape it to your mirror so you see it each day. Keep it on the top of your mind.
7. Reward yourself for completing each step. If you wait a whole year to see progress, it can get frustrating. It is important to recognize each success so you energize yourself to keep moving forward.
8. Utilize resources. Look into the supports related to your goal; for example, a live or online group, books, or someone you know may have an idea. Keep an open mind about anything that will move you forward.
9. Visualize steps and success. The mind doesn’t know the difference between what you imagine and reality. Take a few minutes each day to actually visualize yourself happily achieving your goal.
10. Don’t give up. At the beginning of the year energy is high, and it is easy to be motivated. Later, you may find you have forgotten for a week to do what you planned- don’t give up. You have the whole year to fulfill the goal, each day is a new day.
Many of us have heard these suggestions before, maybe this year we can resolve to put them into practice!
Kim Leatherdale, ATR, LPC is a licensed professional counselor with a practice in Pluckemin, NJ. If you have any questions for her, please e-mail her at arttherapy@oneimage.com or call her office at 908-256-4779.
