It's that time of year again when people start taking a moment or two out from the frenetic push toward Christmas to think about the upcoming year. What's working in our lives and what isn't?
It's also the time of year when people come to me, as an expert in creating life-impacting change, to ask how to be more successful getting a new job, improving their marriages, losing weight or overcoming addiction. I know about change both from the success side -- being a recovered alcoholic for more than 17 years -- and the failure side -- still being a good hundred pounds overweight despite two decades of effort to let the weight go. What helps us succeed or destines us to failure? Here's what you need to know about change.
- Resolutions don't help. To be successful in creating change, stay away from resolutions. For the most part, resolutions are dressed up dreams. We want the things we "resolve" to do better about, but most of the time we don't put together an action plan to make the change happen. If you want to lose weight, getting a gym membership isn't going to do anything for you if you don't have a set-in-stone plan to carve out time to go to the gym at least six days a week and a healthy meal plan that you are prepared to follow. We all know how to lose weight. We just don't do what it takes. Wanting something isn't enough. Writing your dream on paper or posting it on Facebook doesn't help. You need a well-thought-out plan, positive support, and determined commitment to make change happen.
Transforming your life isn't easy, but it can be done if you are willing to put in any effort required to reach your goal.