January 1st signifies new beginnings, a clean slate, new chances and an opportunity to make improvements. Ironically, our lives are a continuum, not a series of separate twelve month increments, so we can never truly start over without the influence of what has gone before. In fact, our continuous growth and development necessitates that we learn from what was less than ideal and carry with us, our successes.
What we can do is use this transition in time as an opportunity to list what has worked, what we need to throw out and what we want to add. Once this list is complete, making a plan to implement what we want to add will allow us a path toward success.
Below are five reasons your resolutions might not have come to fruition last year and suggestions for success in 2013!
1. You didn’t create a plan for it.
We forget that a resolution is really just a GOAL. It doesn’t have additional superpowers just because it starts on January 1. A goal requires a plan. Otherwise, it’s just a wish.
In 2013: Be proactive. Create your plan. Look for possible obstacles and prepare for how you’ll deal with them. Track your progress in your Career Journal.
2. You lost track of the reasons why you were doing it.
Motivation matters. If you don’t know why the goal is important, it’s easy to drop...chances are, it wasn't the right goal to begin with.
In 2013: Clarify why you’re pursuing the goal and what success will look like, as well as why you NEED to do this. Write it down, post it in where you can see it and set reminders.
3. You didn’t build a strong support network.
Friends and family are important. With any goal, it’s important to surround yourself with people who believe in what you’re doing and want to see you succeed.
In 2013: Build a positive network! Let them know what you’re doing and why and ask if you can count on them to help you reach your goal. If they are negative, they are toxic...stay away.
4. You took on too much too fast.
Many of us get a little over-zealous around the New Year. We want to make huge leaps of progress overnight, but real growth is a slow and steady journey. Daily, incremental work will equate to big achievement over time.
In 2013: Take it one step at a time. Go in with reasonable expectations and be patient. It’s not about how much you achieve and how quickly. If you get discouraged, tap into your support network. Never let small setbacks keep you from moving forward.
5. You’re afraid of success.
Truth be told, a lot of goals sound great in theory but once you actually visualize what life will be like once it’s accomplished, fear can easily set in. Sometimes, we’re so attached to who we are and life as we know it—flaws and all—that we subconsciously sabotage ourselves.
In 2013: Prepare to face your fears. While it’s scary to push past your pre-conceived limits, it’s also a necessary part of self-growth. Use fear to fire yourself up.
Resolve is defined as: the act of coming to a definite or earnest decision about; determine to do something.
In 2013, discover your resolve!
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