January is the time when
people resolve to stop smoking, get a better job, lose weight, and hundreds of
other wanted changes in their lives. Unfortunately, according to national
statistics, only five percent will actually accomplish any kind of lasting
change.
The problem? Resolutions are nice little wishes that are quickly
forgotten in the hustle-bustle of everyday living. To make real changes in your
life, there needs to be a process - easy steps that move you methodically in
the direction of your goals.
Here are several suggestions to help you define
and sharpen your actions. Add a little commitment, and the future can truly be
what you choose to make it.
Dream big. It's only natural to
have some level of fear about making changes in your life. For some, their fear
is based on believing they'll have to put their financial security at risk. But
exploring your passion doesn't have to lead you to the poorhouse. There is uncertainty
in exploring anything new. But if you take your journey of discovery step-by-step,
you'll arrive at decision points along the way - places to either move forward
(because you're more sure of yourself or have more knowledge and experience),
or modify your goals to accommodate the need for more time and resources.
Invite questions into
your life. Motivational
speaker Tony Robbins often cites the reason
people end up in places and circumstances they don't like is because they're
not asking the right questions. Questions make us uncomfortable. And that's the
point. They allow us to discover what needs to be changed in our lives. Here
are some examples:
* Am I where I thought I would be at this point in my life?
* What resources do I have that I may not have realized were available to me?
* Which areas (spiritual, health, relationships, money) of my life could use some improvement to bring me more into balance?
Don't wait for
"all green lights." Prior to automation of the New York City subway
system, conductors were given a "green light" to travel a length of
track, and then slow or stop the train until the next section of track became
clear or "green." Conductors knew that waiting for the entire route
to turn "all green" would mean the train would never move.
Do what you know you
can do right now. Later steps may not be apparent to you yet, so don't try to
anticipate what you don't know. Many successful people have admitted they
didn't know enough to be overwhelmed or discouraged and simply struck out with
a desire and commitment to succeed.
Let enthusiasm and
happiness guide your journey. Let your goals be a source of promise for a
better future. Review them daily and make new notes based upon your progress
and what needs to be done next.
Don't let age restrict
your dreams. Instead of anticipating retirement, the current group of fifty-plus-year-olds
are re-examining their lives, moving to new cities, trying new lifestyles, and
learning new ways of living. The most important outcome of these changes? Many
are realizing they needed those first fifty years to discover their real
purpose in life.
Make sure the goals you
set are really yours. Those who set goals to impress family, friends, or business associates usually
find themselves disappointed in the long-term. Personal goals should serve and
benefit your desired outcome.
Don't let money goals
misguide your real purpose in life. Setting a goal of having enough money to pay
all the bills at the end of the month describes a problem, not a goal. And
while having more money is often the desired result of setting new financial
goals, increasing your financial freedom should be the result of accomplishing
a specific life change (a new career, learning new skills, starting your own
business, etc.)
Decide that now is the
time to take action. None of us want a life filled with boredom or frustration, but it's easy to do.
The years pass quickly and before we know it, we've settled into a comfortable
rut. Maybe you've been too busy responding to life's little emergencies and can't seem to get back on track. But we
each receive a very limited number of years to accomplish our dreams. Your
first goal should be to do the most with the time you have left.
(c) 2025 - Jill Reid/The Jill Reid Group