Make your new year's resolution count

Terri Goodman

I love new beginnings, and what better time is there to look ahead than the beginning of a new year. Start the process by acknowledging your gratitude for everything the current year had to offer. Giving a mental nod to our blessings reminds us how much there is to be thankful for.

Then, think about a single change, one accomplishment that would ensure that 2025 would be a successful year for you. For what accomplishment would you look forward to expressing your gratitude when 2025 comes to an end?

That ONE thing should be your New Year’s Resolution?  That’s the ONE effort that would be worth spending your limited free time and resources to accomplish. More than one resolution is distracting… trying to do too much makes it easy to do nothing at all.

When you’ve settled on that ONE thing you want to do, you’ll need a plan, a well-conceived schedule of events that will ensure your success. Without a plan, you’ll waste precious time wondering how to use those few free minutes when you find them. With a plan in mind, you’ll look forward to the opportunity to make progress, to invest in the outcome to which you’ve committed.

Think back to your years of making a list of new year’s resolutions and the disappointing reality that, in a few weeks, the entire list had been forgotten. Those weren’t resolutions; they were new year’s fantasies. A resolution is born of  passion, takes shape with a plan of action, and comes to fruition little by little as you put the plan into action. As you plan, identify the milestones so you can celebrate your incremental successes, knowing you’re on your way to your goal.

Don’t keep your commitment a secret. Share it with family and friends. They'll want you to succeed. They'll become your cheerleaders and your coaches as you move toward your resolution with resolution. And, they’ll celebrate with you when you’ve achieved your victory.