What's Your New Year's (Re-)Solution?

First of all I want to wish you a happy new year!!

This time round I’m not going to ask you what your New Years resolution is but
instead I’m going to ask you: "What's your New Year's 'solution' "?

If you look back to 2019 and you feel dissatisfied with what you’ve achieved or you feel disappointed that you didn’t pursue your goals wholeheartedly, maybe you’ve set goals in a ‘new year's re-solution’ style.

Once you attach a starting date to taking action that’s set in the future, it’s very likely you won’t end up taking any action at all.

Goals are set to be achieved in the future for a reason, but this is not the same when it comes to taking action. You need to FEEL READY TO TAKE ACTION.

If you’re not ready for change (and taking action), you’re not going to be able to force it.

Here are the 6 stages of change so you get to understand what I’m talking about:

• Precontemplation
• Contemplation
• Determination
• Action
• Relapse
• Maintenance

As you move through these stages of change there may be the possibility that you’ll exit & re-enter at any of these stages.

A new year's resolution which basically means 'it’s all happening as of today’ won’t help you jump from precontemplation to maintenance, you’ll still have to go through the stages of change and taking action.

Let’s go back to my initial question: ‘What’s your new year's solution?’

You know what didn't work last year and I can assure you new year's resolutions don't work, so what are you going to do different?

Food for thought:

• What stage of change are you at right now and what needs to happen so you’re ready for change?
• What goals can you set that excite you and are achievable within a realistic time frame?
• How can you change your thinking to help you believe that you can achieve what you set yourself out to do?

Whilst you pursue your new years solution, most importantly make sure that you enjoy the journey. Change is not instant but achieved through consistent actions that take you into the new direction.