I hope you didn’t make a New Year’s Resolution…
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’m so pleased to ring in 2017 with you, which will no doubt, be incredible…if you choose to make it so.
So, what’s a resolution?
According to dictionary.com, a resolution is defined as:
I love this. To sum it up, a resolution is firmly making the decision to take action.
So if you decide you want something, what’s the point in waiting to go after it? Why not start right away? Is there a point in delaying getting the things you want?
What I’ve found, specifically spending years working in weight loss, is that the delay in action is symbolic of the person’s actual belief in whether or not she can really accomplish the goal/desire. And, as you may suspect, belief is everything when it comes to accomplishing goals.
As Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can‘t–you‘re right.”
The thought process (whether consciously or subconsciously), goes something like this: “I’ll start at xxx future date, thereby giving myself permission to relieve myself of the stress and pressure I’m currently feeling to take action. When xxx date comes, I’ll be ready. But right now, I’m not ready to make the changes I need to make to achieve the goal because my comfort zone and ease are more important.”
This is not meant to be derogatory in ANY way because, believe me, I’ve gone through that thought process myself more times than I can count! And what I’ve learned is that it never, ever moves me forward. And xxx date never comes. And if it does, it’s fleeting.
I have moved forward tremendously in my life over the past few months, and I attribute this to taking action now – in the moment I decide I want something. Regardless of whether or not I’m ready, regardless of whether or not I’m confident, and regardless of whether or not I have all the knowledge, tools, and skills to be successful in that moment. I know if I really want it, I’ll figure out a way. My action will breed confidence and motivation.
People get SO caught up in the belief that they’ll take action when they’re motivated, but guess what! MOTIVATION COMES FROM CONFIDENCE WHICH COMES FROM TAKING ACTION – not the other way around! So move forward. Take a step, no matter how small, and I promise motivation to continue winning will come.
All of this said, if you decide on January 1 to lose weight – awesome! Take action on January 1. But if you decide it’s something you need to do on April 14, start that day, right then taking small steps to move you toward the goal.
So to circle back to the title of this email, I am all for you setting goals! I love goals, and I think they are vital to have in all areas of your life.
But don’t wait to take action.
New Year’s Day is, in the end, no different than any other day. It doesn’t hold any magic that will help keep you on track. Too often, I’ve found, is that it’s a delay tactic.
Can you think of a time you put a goal off? Why did you put it off? Did you ever accomplish it? How many times have you given up on New Year’s Resolutions, and can you see how what I’ve talked about impacted the result?
Post a comment, and let me know! Or just let me know if any of this message resonates with you.
Again, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’m committed to making this the best and most accomplished year of my life. I hope you will join me! 🙂