Motivation to Make New Years Resolutions Work
Do New Year's resolutions really work? The short answer is yes. But, you don't believe that, do you? You cannot imagine how many times I have heard people declare that New Year's resolutions never work. By the way, these are the same people that swear diets don't work, good things only happen to rich people, or their new golf club is the reason for their bad swing. I have even heard people say that motivational speakers probably don't live their own advice, so why should they. Enough with the "it's not my fault" game.
Maybe we've become conditioned. Like Pavlov's dog salivating at the sound of a bell, our eyes begin to glaze over and our senses begin to dull when we hear someone talking about setting a New Year's resolution. That's a problem because setting a New Year's resolution is invaluable when it comes to success. For those who believe, that is.
The keys to making a New Year's resolution work. First, you need to understand that a resolution is the process of resolving something such as a problem or dispute. Whatever your New Year's resolution is, you must view it as already resolved. You're not naming the problem (overweight) as your resolution, you're declaring the outcome (size 9, fit and trim, whatever) as your resolution. When you think of an outcome, you're more likely to think of a picture set in the future. The power of thinking of an outcome is that as you can bring clarity to the picture, you can involve all of your sensory perceptions. You can see it, hear it, and even feel it. The whole concept behind developing outcomes rather than goals is to make your desired objective something that is such a part of you that you don't have to think about it. Do you think about breathing? No. Do you think about tying your shoes? No. Those actions come naturally. In the same sense, the intent of becoming outcome-oriented rather than goal-oriented is to create a picture that involves so many of your senses and is so deeply felt, that working toward the realization of it is as natural as can be -- it is effortless and done without even thinking about it. Goals you have to think about. Outcomes are part of you.
The Three-Step New Year's Resolutions Writing Process
1. Articulate Your Outcomes: Write it down. "I want to be fit and trim."
2. Affirm Your Outcomes: Write affirmations in present-terms. "I have a great time working out four times a week and as a result I have a fit and trim body."
3. Add sensory perceptions: Visualize your outcomes.
The Three-Steps Expanded
1. Write down outcomes in the major areas of your life that you want to see changed or resolved.
2. For now, don't worry about the "how to" or making your outcomes SMART. Use generalities.
3. Using your sensory perceptions, create the picture of your outcome in your mind.
4. Write down what you see.
5. Add accountability. What specific actions are required?
6. Refine and change the actions you are taking to realize your outcome, as needed.
7. Refine and edit your outcome based upon the changing pictures in your mind's eye.
The final key is the most important. In my book Power to Change, I address the power your self-talk has on achieving your resolutions and goals. You can download theself-talk chapter by clicking here now. Self-talk is the key to successful New Year's resolutions. You must have positive self-talk if you expect your resolutions to become a positive reality. STOP TELLING EVERYONE THAT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS DON'T WORK. This is a critical choice: go for the positive reality or doom your chances with negative self-talk. For resolutions to work, you need to make a choice right now by what you say to yourself and those around you. If you don't want to do the New Year's resolutions, then just shut up and be fat or broke. What do you really want? There are only two places you can be in life: You are either getting the results you desire or you have reasons why you're not. You are right in both cases.
Learn more about top motivational speaker & coach, Jim Jackson.