Turn Your New Years Resolution Into Reality

New Year’s resolutions – we all think about them at the beginning of each year with hope for what ‘might be’ in the year to come. When we were kids our resolutions were simple and innocent, take a few of mine for instance: I’m going to talk my parents into getting me a horse this year; I’m going to get a boyfriend this year; I’m going to pass all my classes with A’s this year; I’m going to read a hundred books this year. Seriously, can you tell I was a geek child??

Ever notice that most of the resolutions you make never come to fruition? Do you recognize a repeated pattern in your resolutions from year to year? One of the most common New Year’s resolutions in America is to lose weight. Keeping that resolution company are some other widespread resolutions: I’m going to quit smoking; I’m going to spend more time with my family; I’m going to get organized; I’m going to get out of debt; I’m going to keep in touch with my friends and family; and so forth and so on. These are big issues America is addressing each year. The question is what are we doing to achieve our resolutions?

My handy and ever available Webster’s Dictionary describes the word resolution as follows:

1. The act or process of resolving: as

a. The act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones

b. The act of answering: solving

c. The act of determining

3. a: something that is resolved <made a resolution to mend my ways> b: firmness of resolve

4. a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent voted by an official body or an assembled group

Synonyms for the word resolution include: conclusion, deliverance, determination, and diagnosis. Antonyms for the resolution include: hesitation, indecision and indecisiveness.

Stick with me on this. I have a point!

So my friends, what keeps most of us from staying true to our resolutions? Pay close attention to the antonyms on Webster’s list: hesitation, indecision and indecisiveness. We start each year out with ideas of grandeur of losing that extra 20 pounds, running that ever elusive marathon, connecting more often with our distancing friends, getting that promotion at the office and turning our savings account into something more than an extra $100 to blow at the movies on a Friday night. The fabulous thing about this is that an idea is the first step to realizing your resolution. The not so fabulous thing about this is that most people stop their resolutions right where they start – at the idea stage. We think about our resolutions and then we hesitate and can’t decide how to make them happen. So we give up on them before we ever truly get started.

To make your resolution a reality you have to have a plan! See Webster’s description of the word resolution above: you have to analyze a complex notion into simpler ones; you must answer and solve; you have to have firmness; and you must possess intent! So how do you realize your resolution?

• Have a reason for your resolution - make it personal and find your ‘why’
• Research how to make your resolution a reality – duplicate the success of others into your own success
• Create a step by step plan – set realistic goals that you can attain
• Make a personal choice to execute the changes necessary in your life - declare your intentions out LOUD
• Hold yourself accountable – For example: if you are trying to lose weight, keep a food journal; trying to save money, keep a spending log
• Be firm and stick to the plan – if you make a mistake or deviate from your plan, forgive yourself and keep moving forward
• Don’t quit, don’t give up – be stubborn about your success

Here is the amazing thing about all of this. If you stick to your resolutions and see them through to reality, you achieve the synonyms on Webster's list: conclusion, determination and deliverance.

I wish all of my readers an amazing year to come and hope your year is filled with success!

Here are a few books that might offer additional assistance on how to turn your resolutions into reality: