One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year! That's my motto for 'one good reason': it works. If you truly want to make and keep a New Year resolution, fulfill a dream or achieve a goal it's very important to focus on one thing at a time. Too many resolutions and dreams hit the 'goal graveyard' because folks set the bar way too high, try to do too much, too fast, then they get overwhelmed and discouraged because their progress is too slow. Consider two critical mistakes that often lead to failure.
First, resolution-makers draft a long list of 'stuff' that they think they should change about their lives, thus setting themselves up for failure with unrealistic expectations about what they truly can or want to achieve. They don't choose a resolution, dream or goal about which they have great passion, interest and desire.
Second, they don't give that list much thought. In other words, they don't consider 'Who, What, When, Where, Why, How. They don't do their homework. They don't think through the many steps that are necessary to keep a resolution. They don't build a plan that will enable them to make the journey to success.
Do you have what it takes to make and keep a resolution, fulfill a dream, achieve a goal? Take my Five-Part I Resolve To Test to find out. Pick one resolution and consider the possibilities. Dare To Dream . . .
1. Who am I really doing this for? If the answer is myself, then you've passed the first test.
2. What do I want to do/achieve? You need to define specifically in one sentence what you plan to achieve. For instance, I will work out daily for 30-minutes by walking, stretching, biking, swimming, playing tennis, lifting weights, and doing Yoga. If you defined your resolution in one specific, measurable sentence, to which you can apply timelines and deadlines, you've passed the second test.
3. How do I want to do achieve my resolution? You need to do your homework (research), then develop a plan - a Things To Do List (TTD) that lays out all the many long-range tasks/milestones that are necessary to achieve the goal, then break those TTD down into small daily short-range steps that can be taken one by one (a weekly action plan). If you're ready to 'dig in' and build a plan, then you've passed the third test.
4. When/Where do I want to achieve the resolution? Are you willing to pencil your daily TTD's in on your calendar (a wall calendar, computer calendar, daily blog, leather journal, whatever works best for you)? Are you willing work hard, schedule in 30-minutes or more to work on your dream every day, or if not everyday, then a few days each week? Are you willing to do daily/weekly check-ins to measure progress, make course corrections, and reward yourself when you achieve milestones? If the answer is 'yes' you've passed the fourth test.
5. Why do I want to achieve this goal? You have to answer that important question for yourself, the 'why am I doing this'. For instance, because it makes you feel good physically and mentally, provides fulfillment, enriches your life, teaches you something, and so on. Each person's resolution and their reason's 'why' are unique, and important. If you know 'why' you want to achieve your resolution you've passed the fifth test.
Bottom line, if you have a resolution, dream, goal - the path to success and achievement is to multiply the power of one by 365: one dream X 365 small daily steps. You may achieve your dream on 301 steps, or 1701 steps. It may take you six months, or two years, but the important thing is that you 'do it daily', and keep your dream, resolution goal with you for life, a Lifetime Resolution. Take action. Make a decision today to 'go for it' each and every day.
Use the Five Step I Resolve To Test to get you started. Stop Procrastinating. Stop waiting for Someday! Do it now! Remember: I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today! Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Dream, A Lifetime Resolution!
Kim Simpson, a former journalist, provides communications and fundraising services and strategic planning, for Members of Congress, Non-Profit Organizations and Associations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. A self-employed entrepreneur, she launched IResolveTo.Com in 2005 in an effort to help others to achieve their New Year Resolutions, Dreams and Goals. Her motto is - I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.™ Let's 'Go For It'.
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