HOW TO KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS - Impulsivity

The fourth reason I want to present for why so many resolutions go unmet is impulsive actions. So many resolutions are chosen as a result of the impulse of a moment. While, being impulsive can add spice and mystery to a romantic relationship, the less impulsive our goals and resolutions are the more likely it is we are going to reach the goal and keep the resolution.

Waiting until the last minute to start planning a goal for lasting change in our life is not the most ideal situation. Deciding that you won't drink or smoke anymore while you live with and always socialize with drinkers or smokers is not the best plan. You are basically setting yourself up to have the hardest time to try to keep the resolutions by always tempting yourself with the thing you supposedly want to avoid.

You are much more likely to keep your resolution and reach your goal if you put together a simple plan to make a change in your life. List the steps you must take in order to get to where you want to be. Determine how long each of these steps will take. Choose a realistic date when you want to have accomplished your goal. Then, take a calendar and starting from the date you want to have achieved, go backwards with your list and mark the dates when each step needs to be completed and the next begun. By doing this, you can determine a realistic starting date for the change you want to make in your life and you have a documented and realistic plant to achieve it.

When Alice asked the Cat which way she should go, the Cat responded by asking where she was going. Alice said she didn’t know where she was going, so the Cat replied by saying that if that was the case, it didn’t much matter which way she went. Likewise, if you haven’t identified where you want to go, it doesn’t much matter what you do today. But, if you have a vision for something better in your life, you need to develop a plan and start working on it.

I will leave you with a helpful hint. Always remember that your plan is not etched in stone and can be changed. Just because you change your plan doesn’t mean you have given up on your goal. It just means you are taking a different route to get there. Enjoy the journey!