Why "Resolutions" are a bad idea

BUT,

Making a list of your "Big 5" is a much better idea. More on that later.

In my last post, I talked about achieving resolutions, and alluded to why many people fail, especially in regards to fitness.

As an in-the-trenches trainer and wellness coach, I see the common misconceptions that people carry around, and the ones that are advocated by supposed 'experts':

The idea that you can 'set some resolutions' and 'make a fresh start' for 2015 is only partly true. You MUST keep in mind that there are both tangible, and intangible resources required to accomplish ANYTHING.

You need internal reserves like faith in the possibilities, inspiration telling you it's worth it, focus to hone what you do have, and physical vitality to give you the stamina and attractiveness to the people around you.

You need external resources like time in your schedule, space in your relationships and commitments, and adequate and continuous finances to take on any new endeavors.

You need supportive people around you. No one makes it alone

You need sage counsel - people who have 'been there, done that' that make their experience available to you.

You need integrity of character.  Try to cut corners, 'speed up the process', or being shady, no matter what the reason may be, never ends well.

 The only shortcut is to do it right the first time. Be efficient? yes. Simplify? Yes. Will it be easy? No so much.

That's a pretty intensive list, but the good news: Once you start developing a lifestyle that supports and engages these ideas, subsequent goals come faster.

Think of it like the athlete who is simply changing sports...they already have an athletic foundation of strength, speed, balance, flexibility, and now just have to learn the technical specifics of the new goal.

As John Maxwell puts it: "If you reach for a goal, you might grow in the process. If you engage intentional growth, you'll be able to achieve your goals".

I think of it like the child reaching for the cookie jar, sliding the chair, reaching across the corner, and risking peril for a cookie....and they might get it. Or, they could fall really hard.

But, if they grow - they will be able to reach the cookie jar, AND anything else that happens to be 'at that level'.

Now, the "Big 5":

This is the list of 5 things you want to do or work towards in 2015. This is the list that "if nothing else happens, I want to be closer to these 5 things"

It doesn't mean you 'have to achieve it, no matter what, by Dec 31st, 2015". It means, you begin to align your life, so that these 5 things are increasingly manifesting in your life, until the day they actually come into existence.

Common "Big 5"s

-Health goal
-Relationship Goal
-Financial/career/business goal
-Personal 'bucket list' item
-Spiritual growth/passion/purpose discovery goals

Once you have the 'Big 5" identified, start thinking about what they look like. Then, start reverse engineering the steps that will be required  to get there...then, establish what you have to do daily/weekly in order to move forward.

If you don't work well under pressure, don't set deadlines per se - just have 'check points' in mind, so you know if you are on the right track (or not).

This is about 'life alignment', organic progress, and sustainability, not so much the "hurry up and achieve" mindset.

Once your intention is set, keep it set, start moving - but don't force it. Do a self-check once a week, and remember, you reap what you sow.

So, the question is not 'if' you are getting better, it is WHERE are you improving? Are you becoming a world-class complainer? Are you getting better at playing video games while your relationship suffers? Are you getting better at mismanaging your finances while your dream vacation slips further away? Are you enhancing your ability to live listlessly, while depression and lethargy take on greater gravity in your life? Are you getting better at drinking beer and watching TV, while your health runs away from you?

WHERE are you putting your time, energy, talent, resources? Drastic change doesn't happen overnight, but it can BEGIN overnight.

To an abundant future,

JG