It’s time to dust off your new year’s resolutions

Leanne-spiderweb-featherAt the start of the year, some people made New Year’s resolutions and others set goals. We are now half way through the year, and a lot of those people haven’t even thought about those resolutions and goals since January, possibly February.

No doubt at the end of the year, those same people will feel frustrated and disappointed with themselves as their lives will be pretty much the same as they were 12 months earlier. For those people who declared their aspirations at the start of the year, they may also feel embarrassed.

When you start out, you are learning to live a part of your life in a new way so of course you may get it wrong or default to your old ways from time to time. The important thing is to recognise when you’re reverting to old habits and remind yourself of what you are working towards.

We have all failed at some point in our life. When we are learning something new, we often fail frequently until we get the hang of it. Think of a goal or resolution in much the same way. When you start out, you are learning to live a part of your life in a new way so of course you may get it wrong or default to your old ways from time to time.

The important thing is to recognise when you’re reverting to old habits and remind yourself of what you are working towards.

Despite our best intentions, committing to a major change in our life can be challenging, especially if the benefits are not immediately visible or it requires us to break life-long habits. We start out totally focused and enthusiastic about how great we will feel when we accomplish our goal or resolution. We visualise how great we’ll look in our wedding dress/bikini or the fantastic holiday we’ll have with the money saved from quitting smoking/drinking.

Initially everything goes well; you stick to your promise and do everything you say you would. Then you have a bad day. Suddenly all your enthusiasm has left the building. Everywhere you turn, you are challenged and in the end it feels so much easier to go back to what you know. Then as hard as you’ve tried, you give in and you’re right back to where you started.

You tell yourself you’ve failed and make yourself feel like crap. You then tell yourself that there’s no point giving it another try because you’ll just fail again. Before you know it, your goal or resolution becomes a distant memory, along with the benefits you had visualised experiencing and you’re half way through the year.

We have all failed at some point in our life. When we are learning something new, we often fail frequently until we get the hang of it. Think of a goal or resolution in much the same way. When you start out, you are learning to live a part of your life in a new way so of course you may get it wrong or default to your old ways from time to time.

The important thing is to recognise when you’re reverting to old habits and remind yourself of what you are working towards. Here are 3 practical things you put in place to keep yourself on track:

1. A visual reminder

Put a photo on your mirror, wardrobe or on the fridge. You can also set daily reminders in your phone or calendar.

2. An accountability partner

Share your goal or resolution with someone and ask them to keep you on track. Agree a regular time when you will check in with each other and be clear what you want them to hold you accountable for.

3. A reward

When you reach milestones, treat yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything major, just something that you will enjoy and that acknowledges your progress

So if your new year’s resolutions or 2014 goals are collecting dust, it’s not too late to revive them. And remember, losing your way doesn’t mean you’ve failed and is not a reason to give up. You set your intentions at the beginning of the year for a reason. There was something you wanted for your life, so remember what that was and make it happen. Start today.

“Unless you marry intention to action, you end up with only a brief affair.” ~ Unknown

Leanne LindseyAuthor Bio:

Leanne Lindsey loves inspiring, motivating and empowering women who have had enough of feeling demotivated, fed up and unfulfilled to create a career and life they love. She is a Career and Lifestyle Fulfilment Coach and author of Get A Career & Life You Love, who has experienced redundancy, a complete career change, starting a small business and as a result is enjoying what she calls “the sweetness of life”.

Through 1-1 coaching, workshops and writing, Leanne works predominantly with women who are considering a career change or craving a more fulfilled life, to identify any limiting beliefs, find inspiration, get creative, explore their options, rediscover their purpose and develop a plan for living a more meaningful life, full of happiness, joy, peace and abundance.

To receive a FREE guide to creating a happier and more fulfilled career and life, click here or visit her website.

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2 Responses
  1. My New Year’s resolution was to move from Brighton to London and get my dream job! Well, as of today, I can confirm that it has been achieved! I moved up three weeks ago and have been looking for a job since then and yesterday, I got told that I got the one I really, really wanted! Stick to your resolutions and make your dreams come true!