by Edward Raymond

Created on: January 05, 2009

Many a long journey begins with the single step of intention during the drop of the ball in Times Square. Unfortunately, it is a journey short lived with little or no action to follow it up in many cases. Avoid another year of unfulfilled dreams or more plans put on hold due to complications.

How you may wonder? What possibly will be different this year that could allow you to meet your goals?

Let's start with the last question and realize that a resolution is a goal that is being set and the time frame is to be completed by the end of this year. We need to be realistic then in how we proceed as this is a goal and will require planning and (gulp) sacrifice. If you're working for minimum wage and dreaming of a week vacation in Hawaii, you may want to modify your plan a little. It's not likely to happen this year, but it still isn't impossible in five or more.

With that target set firmly in mind, we can begin to build our plan. I will use excercise as an example as getting fit is a common resolution.

First, write it down. The act of commiting your goal to paper is a statement to yourself and to the world that this is something that truly matters to you. This will also serve as your statement of purpose as you begin to build a contract with yourself.

Second, consider the small steps that are required to build momentum. Rome was not built in a day, so neither should you expect yourself to have rock hard abs or buns of steel within a week. How much time a day can you commit to the functions required toward reaching your goal? What do you need to do in the first month? The third month? The sixth month? Take a full inventory of your current state and be honest with yourself. For the purpose of this example, such an inventory would involve going to the gym and testing your limits on the excercises that you will need in order to build strength, increase speed, or loose weight in order to meet your goal. Write down your results as this will be your baseline. You will already have a confidence booster at the end of the first month when you check your limits again and see a real change. Consider finding a partner with the same or similar goal. You can boost each other with gentle reminders of, "Missed you at the gym. Hope you're okay."

Third, use the list from the second step to incorporate into your contract. This will further help to solidify your resolve as well as give you a firm mental image that it can be done as long as you remain focused.

Fourth, look at your contract twice a day for the first month and weekly thereafter. You can improve the odds even more in your favor with the constant enforcement of seeing and even reading it aloud.

Fifth, seek out those in your social circle with the same goal or a group that meets regularly to discuss or participate in the subject of your interest in order to have an added support path.

Finally, you have your intention and, more importantly, you have a map. Let your journey be fun and blessed with the fruits of achievement.

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