by Robert Lamber

Created on: December 09, 2008   Last Updated: December 15, 2008

For those of us that have made New Year's resolutions, we now embrace them in a familiar old saying, You can't teach an old dog new tricks!' It's not as if the 'old dog' isn't listening or willing. How many times are we going to try and teach our resistant hounds something they've tried but have decided they would rather curl up in their favorite chair and wait to be called to dinner!' Yes, we all know the feeling of giving it the old 'college try', but as we trek up the mountain to grab that carrot, we begin to hope it will roll down all by itself rather than go up and get it! It's a tough climb with good intentions but it just doesn't seem worth the effort. The New Year brings out our 'wannabe' aspirations. To justify our limitations, we proclaim that this year's effort has too many roadblocks and next year (we promise) is the year we'll reach it! Oh, how the years have gone by! How can we overcome this chronic Don Quixote syndrome, 'to reach an impossible dream?'

Conquer procrastination! We have beaten this excuse to death. It is easy to say and as long as no one is telling you that you are dying, you can hang your hat on it as the best reason for doing nothing. I have come to believe that although procrastination is a formidable foe to achieving goals and desires, it is only formidable because we make resolutions without planning them properly. It's not the resolution. It's the road we take that has us run out of gas! (Nice analogy don't you think?). Here's how to handle your New Year's resolutions from losing weight to stopping smoking, to finally asking out the cute neighbor you've been eyeing for two years, to getting into shape, to writing that novel, to finding a better job, etc. Take these steps and you'll be that much closer to achieving your resolutions and like Sylvester Stalone in 'Rocky' you can look in the mirror and shout, 'Yo, Adrian, I made it!'
Write down your goals or resolutions. What do you want to achieve? Which ones are top priorities? Don't just say it, write it and place it where you can see it daily.
Don't make it an unrealistic goals. Pick one or two that you have been thinking about for a while.
Break down what you think it will take to accomplish it. Than ask yourself where can you get the proper advice on reaching these goals? Do you think you are the only one that has ever tried to stop smoking, find a better job, overcome shyness? Look for support groups or friends that have achieved the goal or who have failed at it. It will help you eliminate the pitfalls.
Start slow. Baby steps. Make a plan don't wing it. Here's a formula I use to help me override procrastination. Write down your age (No cheating here, you're the only one that will see it). I place a line about it and the number 1 above the line. I have now formed a small fraction. Do it right now. That my friend, is 1 year of your present life. That should be your goal. 1 year at a slow and steady pace to master a goal or desire. Some goals will come faster than others but giving yourself enough time to reach them is the proper planning you need. Don't look week-to-week or month-to-month, it will only frustrate you because you will expect too much too soon. Remember you are today an accumulation of all your decisions you have made in your past. So take just a fraction of that time to change your attitude. That is the key to staying on course.
New Year's resolutions are no different than children that send Santa a 'wish list' letter in January. If they promise to be good the whole year, they'll know what to expect under the tree in December. Just make sure that in 'your letter to Santa' in January, you find it under your tree in December as well! Happy New Year's Resolution to you and yours!

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