Over the next few weeks (and, to a lesser extent, over the next several months), I'll be bringing you resources you need to make changes in your life that can bring lasting inner peace. This goes beyond what most people do in the way of new year's resolutions, but it doesn't take more effort. The approach I'm advocating involves working smarter, rather than harder, to reach your goals in the new year, and to set the right goals in the first place. (As a life coach and wellness coach, I work with clients to make changes in their lives that reflect their personal goals, values, and strengths, and I'd like to do the same for you here on a more casual scale.) The first step is to look at what you may want to change. (If you already know, keep reading--there are resources for you further down.)
Because goal setting is so important for goal attainment, I want to be sure to share effective strategies for setting new year's goals. If you take the traditional approach of setting one big goal (like, "I want to lose weight") and then making major changes (like, "I will no longer eat dessert and will start following a very rigid diet until I do"), you may be setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. For example, if you decide to lose weight by starting a very strict diet, it will be difficult to make such a change right away. It's likely that you'll have a few slip-ups. If you're like most resolution-setters, you may experience one of these slips and decide that you just don't have what it takes to make the change. You may either lose motivation or give up altogether, and maybe even be less inclined to try again in the future.
To be sure this doesn't happen, read about how to set effective goals for the new year.
If you already know how to set goals and are generally effective with your new year's resolutions, and you need new ideas of healthy changes to make, I recommend you choose one of these resolutions for a less-stressed 2012, and find changes you can make that bring greater peace to your life.
Finally, when you're making a change in your life, it often helps to announce it to others, as a way to commit yourself. You may or may not be ready to tell all of your nearest and dearest, but one quick and easy step you can take now toward increased commitment and motivation is to share your resolutions with me and other readers, and see what the rest of us are planning in 2012.
Stay tuned for future blogs and resources on this topic, and good luck in the new year!
- Goals Vs. Resolutions: How To Make Changes Stick!
- Resolutions For A Less-Stressed 2012
- What Are Your Resolutions For 2012? See What Other Readers Say!
