We all make new year’s resolutions.
I think we do it because we don’t want to make the same mistakes as we did the previous year and always strive towards a better life.
But, we make resolutions that don’t last and we slip into the old habits of the old year.
Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new action to become a habit and six months for it to form part of your personality.
So, if you persevered with an action since 1 January, you will almost have formed a habit.
New beginnings won’t happen easily and to establish a new habit takes commitment.
This is where we should stop wishing and start setting goals.
We also have to track and evaluate our own progress.
The internet is rich with ideas on how to stick to these new year’s resolutions.
The website www.bankrate.com says you have to make a new year’s resolution based on something you want, and not the desires others have for your life.
For instance, we all hear that we now have to lose weight because we ate too much during the holidays or that we have to stop smoking.
I agree that if you lose weight or stop smoking because someone else wants that for you that this new year’s resolution will not have staying power.
But how do we keep on doing the right things to get to our goal?
The site advised to be realistic about what you want to accomplish by creating a specific action plan to get your resolution in action, as well as not having two or three changes at the same time.
I believe in creating a series of smaller steps to reach your goal.
It is also good to have someone who will hold you accountable for sticking to your goals.
If you don’t write down your goal, it will remain a dream or something you would have done, therefore journaling is the best way to keep track of your new year’s resolution.
With this you can go back to see what you decided to do.
The website ww.huffitonspost.com reminds us that making a new year’s resolution is about the journey and not the outcome.
I believe these skills (most of the time) make us better people because in this journey we not only acquire more patience and endurance, but learn more about our strengths and weaknesses.
