Keeping your New Year's Resolutions - One Moment at a Time
Posted on January 4, 2010 12:00:00am, by Gerrianne Clare
Many of us make New Year’s Resolutions on January 1st then turn around and break them a week later. People put pressure on themselves to change all of their bad habits at once, hoping that the New Year will bring in a New Resolve to make all the changes happen. This often fails however, as there is little thought put into how to create changes that are both positive and that can last.
With some soul searching and some planning this year, you can come closer to creating the changes you want in your life.
What do you want your life to look like? What do you want to hear people say about you and what do you want to be saying to yourself? Taking time and answering these questions in an honest and open manner can be time well spent. Identifying the small changes you can make today to get you closer to your goal is an important first step.
What are the things you want to change? Are they habits, ways of thinking or being that do not serve you?
“Start with changing one habit at a time and one only”
It takes 21 days to change a habit.
Identify one thing you would like to change
Identify the reason why you want to change it
Make an agreement with yourself that you are going to be diligent in making the change
Name the obstacles that get in your way when trying to change this habit
Identify for yourself, one thing you can do to overcome the obstacles
Try making the change
Notice what happens when you take the steps necessary to change
Did you succeed?
If yes, celebrate
If no – ask yourself what you could have done differently
Keep your agreement with yourself about being diligent in making this change
For example, you may want to get up ½ hour earlier in the morning to get a better start on your day. Make an agreement with yourself that you are going to make this happen no matter what. It is important to identify the obstacles that keep you from getting up earlier. The only way you can change this for the long term is one moment at a time.
Tomorrow morning when your alarm goes off, you have a choice in that moment
Am I going to get up now or am I going to sleep in?
What do I really want? Am I going to keep my agreement with myself?
In this moment you have a choice to keep your agreement or not.
If you do not get up, enjoy the added sleep
Later on, reevaluate – why did I not get up, what could I have done differently
It is tempting to make light of it, not keep your agreements and dismiss it
Keeping your agreements with yourself is like keeping an agreement with a friend, it builds trust and goodwill
Let me know how you are doing with your New Year's Resolutions.
Remember, change only one habit at a time, give yourself 21 days of consistent effort to make this happen, be gentle on yourself when you fall off the wagon, celebrate when you succeed.
Happy New Year and All the best in 2010
Blog with you later,
Gerrianne
Comments
Posted by Sue Birkam on January 5, 2010 at 1:00:22pm
Gerrianne. Great posting and outline of action to break down what some people find monumental. That is the key. Choosing the one thing at a time that would make your life move forward. I liked the importance of not "beating yourself up" when you mis step in creating new habits, rather looking at it objectively to start anew.
All the best,
Sue
Posted by Gerrianne on January 5, 2010 at 2:11:38pm
Sue, Thank you for commenting. G