2016 New Years Resolutions: How To Hit Your Goal This Year

New Years Resolutions (NYR) abound this time of year. Although I don’t personally make New Years Resolutions, because I tend to regularly set and hit goals throughout the year, for those that don’t, this is a good time to get into the habit of taking control of the direction of your life.

WHY PEOPLE FAIL

First, let me list a few reasons why most people don’t keep their NYR:

1. They are not written down.
2. They don’t make a plan.
3. They are unrealistic.
4. They don’t really want it.
5. They don’t put a date of achievement on it.
6. They haven’t solidified the rewards.
7. They aren’t specific enough.

I could go on, but as you can see there are a few very simple fixes to increase your success in achieving your goals in 2016. Let’s look at them:

Why are you making a New Years Resolution?

Is it for you or for somebody else? For over 50% of the people that have NYR this year, the answer will be because of somebody else. Isn’t that amazing? If YOU don’t want to do it, even though you say you do, the chances are YOU won’t do it. So, you have two choices:

1. Don’t do it, because you most likely won’t, or
2. Find a way of making it personal to you, so you will.

Start at the end and work backwards.

Let’s suppose this is a resolution that YOU have decided to make for YOU, and YOU really want to achieve it. It could be anything, getting a new job, losing weight, finding your life partner, anything! Imagine you already have it. Picture yourself at the finish line. Answer the following questions and WRITE THEM DOWN:

1. How do you feel?
2. What do you look like?
3. How have you changed?
4. Is anyone else upset? Why?
5. Who’s happy? Why?
6. Do you miss anything/ anyone?
7. Was it worth it? If not, why not? If yes, why?
8. Listen to your new self, what are you saying?

If you don’t already meditate, try sitting alone, silently as you do this step. Keep a pen and paper handy so you can write things down.

Why start at the end and work backwards?

Many of us THINK we know what we want, but when we get it we discover it really isn’t what we wanted. It’s one of the reasons people that use Law of Attraction DON’T attract what they actually want.

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Anthony James Donnelly is an author, motivational and business coach, and life guide. He has spent over 20 years working directly with individuals and corporations to adjust their perspectives on life. In his latest book, “My First Goal-Setting Book: How To Effectively Set & Achieve Your Life Goals”, he concisely explains how to get whatever you want out of life.