How often have you made a New Year’s resolution and never achieved it? How many times did you start out full of determination and willingness to exert effort to succeed, but somehow lost the momentum three weeks later?

This year, before making a declaration, take time to examine the “reason why” you are considering it. Is it to correct something you think is wrong or is it to fulfill a dream-come-true? The key to success lies in the “motive” for making the resolution in the first place. Goals that are established to carry out your aspirations are more likely to be accomplished and those that try to fix something hardly ever work.

 

Some of the Differences Between the Two are:

• Resolutions made to correct something cause us to make sacrifices until that glorious day when they are achieved. We construct a plan and struggle day in and day out with trying to “make it happen.” This adds a stressful burden, draining us both physically and mentally. When we set a resolution to accomplish a dream, it nourishes us, not only when we finally accomplish it, but also every step of the journey.

• Almost always, making a resolution to correct something sends a clear message, “we are not good enough.” No matter how much effort we have put in or what we have accomplished, it’s still not good enough. This can easily lower our self-esteem a notch or two. Making a resolution based on a dream doesn’t beat us down before we get started. Instead, it jump starts the confidence that is needed to accomplish it.

• When we make a resolution to correct something there is no guarantee we’ll be happy when we achieve it. This is one of the reasons why so many lose the weight and then put it back on. Working on a resolution based on a dream, just by the nature of it, does make us happier.

• Finally, there is no way we can escape feeling, even a little bit, that we have botched up and done something wrong when we don’t succeed at correcting something. Because we feel we have done something wrong, there is a tendency to punish ourselves for it, which makes it even worse. On the other hand, if we don’t meet a goal based on a dream right away, we are more lenient with ourselves, knowing every day we’re getting closer.

 

Change the Way you Make this Year’s Resolution by Asking Yourself these Questions:

• Will I have to make sacrifices to accomplish it?
• Will I feel like a failure if I don’t complete it?
• Am I going to be dissatisfied until it is achieved?

 

If you answered YES to any of these questions, you are probably making resolutions to correct something. If you decide to keep it you’re really setting yourself up for a battle, consisting of plenty of hard work, sacrifices, and the fear you won’t succeed.

Remember, the key to success lies in the “reason why.” If you make a resolution to fulfill a dream, it is automatically successful, whether you achieve it or not. Success is built-in every step of the process. Each step is fun and easy, gives you more confidence, and builds your self-esteem a little higher.

If you need help with your New Year’s Resolutions, contact Vickie Champion for a discovery coaching and consulting session.

By Vickie Champion