Don’t Be a Statistic — Make Your Resolution Stick!
It’s that time of year in which many make resolutions to improve themselves in some way personally and professionally. And as much as those goals may be worthy of achieving, most fall short of making them a reality. In fact, Healthfacts.blog states that 41% of the population make New Year’s resolutions and by the end of the year only 8% of people that make them keep them.
Honestly, I can relate. Years ago I would make resolutions to work out regularly to stay fit. Although I have made it a habit over the past decade to workout at least 3 to 5 times per week, it didn’t become my lifestyle until after multiple attempts. I made excuses instead of sacrifices; I wanted it but wasn’t fully committed. It wasn’t until l I stopped making excuses and found ways to get it done that it became a part of my lifestyle.
I have been fortunate over the years to have numerous mentors and leaders invest in my personal and professional growth. As a result, here are a few life learnings that I believe are key to pursuing and achieving your goals:
Vision: “Without vision the people perish” – Proverbs 29:18
In the professional and business world we tend to associate that proverb with effective leadership and communicating the collective vision. This proverb also holds true in personal achievement. In order to reach your destination, there has to be a clear and specific vision of what you are wanting to accomplish. For example, if your goal is to lose 100 pounds then you have to envision what your life would be like if you were 100 pounds lighter. To start, many may create their vision through vision boards, detailed lists that resemble business plans, or even meditation. Once this vision is established, then you can simply map out your path to get there.
Self-Discipline: “Self-discipline is self-love” – Actor/Singer Will Smith
Oftentimes we associate “discipline” with punishment but in fact self-discipline is not punishment but a choice to make the necessary sacrifices, choices, or actions in order to achieve long-term improvement of oneself. To keep your resolution, or any goal, you have to consciously make the hard choices that will help you reach your desired end result. So that may mean you get up at 5am instead of 7am to find the time to workout. Or maybe you cook at home instead of going out to eat to get to your goal weight. Or you take that course you have been dreading to acquire the skills you need for a promotion. The greatest obstacle in the way of reaching your goals is you. Be disciplined to do what you need to and get out of your OWN way.
Effective Routines: “Depending on what they are, our habits will either make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do.” – Sean Covey
Self-discipline should lead to the formation of good habits. It’s those habits or routines you form over time that will push you to success. You have to keep working out to get the body you want. Just one workout will not cut it. Attending one class of a semester course will not teach you the skills you need for your promotion—you have to go to all of them. Our conscience and unconscious routines are the consistent behaviors that have us in our current state…to move to a different state you have to be consistent with the behaviors that will move you.
These 3 life lessons have been pillars to my success and certainly benefited me through both my personal and professional lives. Create your vision, be self-disciplined, and follow effective routines so you don’t become a statistic and, instead, make your resolution stick!
