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Turning Resolutions into Realizations

The commencement of a new year brings forth feelings of renewed possibilities. Many are filled with the spirit of beginning anew, or simply improving on the old. New Year’s resolutions are a time –honored tradition where we vow to make a change for the upcoming year. This change typically involves personal improvement, but can extend beyond our desires for ourselves.

Sadly, most resolutions are abandoned by early February. Research suggests that nearly 60% of people give up on their resolutions by February 1st. As a result, making a resolution now has a negative connotation. My hope is that people will realize resolutions are a great way of expressing their goals. Where we fall short is the lack of preparation we take in order to turn our resolutions into realizations. I’ve come up with a few steps that will help you do just that!

1. Come up with your goals/resolutions

a. Whether you write them down, list them in the memo section of your phone, or express them with a vision board, the first step you need to take is to decide what you would like to accomplish!

2. Specify your resolution/goal

a. If your resolution/goal is to save money, be specific on how much you would like to save. It is

important to know what specifically you are working towards, as this will directly affect the outcome of

your resolution/goal.

3. Specify a time frame

a. One thing I always stress to my clients is a resolution/goal without a timeframe is just a wish. You

have to know not only what you are working towards, but also how long it is going to take you to realize

your resolution/goal.

4. Interventions

a. Determine what interventions (steps) you will need to take to achieve your resolution/goal. * This is

a crucial step in turning resolutions into realizations. *

b. Note that it is also appropriate to add timeframes to your interventions. This will assist in making

your overall goal more manageable. This is also a great way to maintain accountability.

The example below will help clarify all these steps for you.

Goal: Save Money

Specific goal: Save $5000.00

Timeframe: 12 months

Interventions: Analyze expenses (one week)

Develop a budget (one week)

Open a separate savings account (two weeks)

Deposit $96.16 weekly or $192.32 biweekly, or you can utilize one of the charts on Pinterest which breaks down varying deposit amounts in a weekly or biweekly format. (52 weeks or 26 weeks)

As illustrated above, the best way to warrant success is to make your resolution/goal manageable. Remember that not every resolution/goal you have will be so straightforward. Life will always throw us a few curveballs, but it is how you react to these curveballs that will determine your success. Lastly, never hesitate to reach out to a professional. I realize it is not always easy for people to come up with a plan to achieve resolutions/goals independently. Goal setting is a key component of therapy and life coaching, and is something I do with my clients on a daily basis. Any professional would love the opportunity to assist you in achieving your resolutions/goals.

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