New Year Resolutions don’t work! | You should just DO IT NOW!

The concept of the New Years Resolution is not a new one, but is a tradition practiced by many every New Year throughout the world.

To make a promise to yourself that from January 1st of the New Year you are going to make a change in your life to something that you really want, and to see that promise through until it’s completion is a great idea, but for many people it remains just that….an idea.

Statistics show that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. So if only 12% of participants are successful with their New Years Resolution, there must be some reason why it is a flawed concept and doesn’t work for most people.

He who breaks a resolution is a weakling;
He who makes one is a fool.
~F.M. Knowles

What’s wrong with a New Year Resolution?

The idea of promising yourself that you will do something simply because it is a New Year is not enough incentive to continue the change. You wouldn’t tell yourself that because tomorrow is the 14th October that you will now lose 10 kg…so why should January 1st be any different?

Starting a New Year fresh and in a positive way is a very healthy thing to do, however without any true drive behind your goals they will most likely never be met, and you will easily revert back to your comfortable and usual ways within a short amount of time – even if it’s not what you really want.

Actions are louder than words. Announcing to your friends while you’re all enjoying your 5th round of drinks that you’re going to quit smoking sounds great…as do the cheers that you will receive at your bold and brave statement, however do you really have the willpower to make it happen? – especially considering you still have half a pack of cigarettes in your back pocket? Unless you’re prepared to prove your statements by immediate action, don’t bother. (In other words – give your smokes away and ask everyone to back you up and not smoke in front of you – just as a start…)

To Embrace Your Life and make such a dramatic change, you need commitment and planning. Attempting to make such a change in your life like losing weight, quitting smoking or changing jobs without planning and support is like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute – You might survive and come out ok, but the odds are against you.

Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.  ~Oscar Wilde

How can I make my New Years Resolution work?

The first thing you should do is stop calling it a New Year Resolution. Giving your Goal this name is also allowing it to be a temporary thing in your life – which it isn’t.

As humans we are creatures of habit and would prefer our usual and comfortable actions rather than face the unknown. Even if the change is something that deep down we really want, it is easier to stick with what we know. One way we can force change within ourselves is by planning. If you are expecting that you’ll dig in your heels and attempt self-sabotage, by planning ahead you can stop these bad habits from surfacing before they become a problem and hinder your entire Change.

If you have made decision that you are willing to give the time and effort to make a permanent change within your life then you have ‘Chosen an Exciting New Goal’, ‘Made a Promise’ to yourself or you’re ‘Focusing on a Change in your Life’. If  you think this way, this will help your perception that your Goal is not temporary – it is a permanent change for the better as well as a change toward something you really want.

Put a plan in place - Don’t jump out of the plane without a parachute.

How are you going to achieve this goal? What Resources, Mentors, Books, CDs, DVDs, Websites or Programmes are there that can assist you in making this permanent change?

Make sure you tell your family and friends about it – they will be a great source of support in your planning and execution.

Keep a journal or diary of your plans, ideas, desires, dreams and progress. This will not only be a great resource for when you’re feeling inspired about your Goal, but will also help to spur you on when you’re in a negative place, or feel as though you’re not going anywhere.

Decide to Make a Change Right NOW

Don’t wait until the New Year to make a change in your life – DO IT NOW. No doubt, there is something you can do right now to begin your transformation to become the person you want to be. If you want what you want for yourself – then there is no Tomorrow – there is only NOW.

Make a Phone Call, Buy a Book, Talk to that Person who has done what you want to do, Write a Plan, Visit that Website and order that Brochure – do whatever you must do in order to start RIGHT NOW.

“Take the first step, and your mind will mobilize all its forces to your aid. But the first essential is that you begin. Once the battle has started, all that is within you will come to your assistance.”

~ Robert Collier

So, the next time someone asks you ‘What’s your New Year’s Resolution?’ You will know within yourself that you have already begun to make the changes in your life that you desire. You can smile to yourself and answer:

‘I DON’T HAVE ONE – I’VE CHOSEN TO MAKE THE CHANGE IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.’

Good Luck and Best Wishes for 2010!