Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I would like to wish everyone a healthy, prosperous, successful, and blessed 2008.

The beginning of a new year brings to mind the obligation of resolutions. It seems like the logical time to “sweep out the old, bring in the new”. Start over. Do “everything right”.

There are several definitions of the word “resolution”, but the one I like is “finding a solution to a problem”. I have learned over the course of my life that one does not find the solution to all of one’s problems somewhere between midnight December 31st and 12:01 AM January 1st of the subsequent year.

The solving of problems takes time. It also requires change, and change seldom occurs overnight. Change is a process that must be planned out, evaluated, implemented, and re-evaluated for its effectiveness.

Resolutions are usually broken within the first week. By the first of February, we are in despair over our failure to live a healthier lifestyle or make a dent in the to do list we promised to complete. Most of us still carry the burden of those bad habits we vowed to shake. Sometimes it seems that we remain at a standstill as time marches forward.

This year, I have decided to dispense with resolutions and set goals instead. Defined as “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed”, goals are friendly little things. They represent movement, progress, final arrival at a destination. If they are not achieved by a certain date, they can be moved a bit further along on the calendar without too much protest.

Goals can be broken down into pieces. A resolution is like cramming half a sandwich into one’s mouth all at once, forcing a person to choke it down. Goals can be achieved at a more leisurely pace, making them much more palatable.

A word of warning. Goals come with a companion that cannot be denied. Responsibility. If we do not hold ourselves accountable to our goals, they are as worthless as a paper sack with a hole in the bottom. We have to set up consequences for failure to meet our goals and exercise the self-discipline necessary to enforce them.

Be specific about the goals you wish to achieve and break them down into realistic possibilities. Rather than setting a goal of writing 500 words a day, aim for 2500 words a week. That gives you leeway when the grandkids stop by unexpectedly, you have meetings to attend, or life events just get in the way. This little padding can mean the difference between success and failure.

If you find you are consistently not meeting the goal, take the time to do an evaluation and find out why not. Is it too unrealistic for your life-style? Is it a matter of self-discipline? Are there other things in your life that need to take precedence right now, other goals that are more important?

If you find your goals are feasible, put those consequences in place. “If I have not written 2000 words by Friday, I need to skip that favorite Saturday evening TV show”. Be firm with yourself when you need to be and give yourself a break when it is warranted.

Throw out the resolutions that shatter like tinkling glass when they are broken. Set goals that are tangible, flexible, and rewarding when achieved. Move forward in 2008!

Thanks for reading my blog.