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52 Changes in 52 weeks
New year resolutions can be dangerous things because you can just be setting yourself up for failure.
Here's the formula for failure:
- Make lots of resolutions. At least ten or more.
- Make huge resolutions, the bigger the better. Example: Lose 20 pounds in 20 days.
- Make resolutions that are vague, such as "getting in shape."
- Make resolutions that can't be measured, such as "getting along better with my boss."
- Make resolutions designed to benefit others rather than myself.
- Make resolutions that "they" think are a good idea.
- Work 100% on every resolution every day. (Help, I'm drowning.)
This year how about doing things differently? How about spreading out your resolutions over the entire year? One per week.
And they're not called "resolutions." They're called "changes." Personal development is about making changes.
Start out the year with the plan to make one change every week. If that's too many or too frequent, then you can make it one every two weeks. Some advisors say it should be one each month. This is a life-long thing, and it doesn't have to happen all at once. And it's your life-long thing, so you can do it at your own pace.
Here's my plan:
First week: I will do two repetitions of my back exercises every day. Not fancy, but it's something I need.
At the end of the first week I'll have these options:
- It worked. Keep it going into the next week.
- It worked, and I want to do more. For the next week increase it to four repetitions.
- It didn't work, or it made me unhappy. I will stop doing it.
Second week: Make one more change. And so on.
How about you?
- Can you make one small change every week?
- Wouldn't it be an amazing thing to make 52 small changes over a one year period?
Ross Runkel, Post Office Box 1031, Salem, Oregon
97308-1031.
Phone 503-399-8028. Fax 503-566-8844. email Ross@LawMemo.Com
