By Gene C. Hayden, author ofThe Follow-Through Factor
New Year's resolutions are promises we make (and often break!) to improve our lives. Is this the year you vow to write that screenplay, start a business, run a marathon or finally learn to play piano?
Whatever it is you want to do, you have to expect that you will need to get over a few hurdles to make it happen. The good news is that you don't need to be bursting with energy, or to be particularly brilliant, passionate or gutsy to stay on track. And even better, you can do whatever it is you want even if you don't have a bulging bank account, friends in high places, or endless free time. Here’s how:
Waning passion: Want to know the number one reason people abandon their resolutions? Because they fall out of love. Like a disappointing third date, the initial spark you felt for your big idea can grow cold, fast. But nobody feels the passion for their goal 24/7. Expect that some days you'll like the thing you want to do, and other days you won't be all that keen on it. Stick with it anyway. If you stay faithful to your idea, your interest will grow, not diminish.
Lack of money: All dreams come with a price tag, but so does inaction. You can find courage to write a cheque by reminding yourself that you don't have to foot the entire bill for your project all at once. Just fund it one small step at a time. And look for non-essential items you can sacrifice to pay for your ambition. You don't have to give up anything forever, just for now as a way to help you attain the future you want.
No time: Typically, we put everyone else’s needs ahead of our own. Put your resolutions first, and you'll discover a funny thing happens to those around you. They'll find a way to adjust to your schedule, even if they have to flex some initiative of their own to do it. Think of your appointments with yourself as a series of non-negotiable can’t-be-missed dentist appointments. When you've got to be somewhere, you find the time to get there.
No energy to spare: Believe it or not, we have a reserve energy tank. To access extra juice, just take a tiny micro-step towards your goal. Even the littlest action will revitalize you. No matter how weary you are, it’s less draining to do something, no matter how small, than to be weighted down by the guilt of inaction.
Not knowing how to proceed: When you don’t have a clue, all you have to do is ask the question that launched a thousand successful resolutions: What do I need to find out first? That's all you need to know to figure out which foot to put in front of the other.
Gene Hayden is a creative strategist and professional business coach. Her book,The Follow-Through Factor, offers practical strategies that work with your realities, not against them, to get you where you want to go. It teaches you how to win the tug-of-war against demands, doubts, and circumstances that can prevent you from reaching your goals.
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