How You Can Achieve Your New Years Resolutions

For most of us 2008 has simply whizzed past. Some of us have reached significant milestones, but for some of us our goals and dreams have disappeared in its wake. Have you achieved what you set out to around this time last year? If you have, then give yourself a well earned pat on the back and bask in the satisfaction of personal achievement - because for many of us, we're exactly where we were a year ago, or perhaps even a few steps back. This could be for any number of reasons, many of them external like the economy or the price of fuel (which mercifully has retreated back to far more sensible levels now!). These things are often difficult to control. But the internal ones, like your own state of mind, are a different matter and this is where you can exert significant influence in achieving your 2009 goals and dreams.

We all have opinions about whether new years resolutions work or not. I'm one of those who believe they do work. But I also believe that many of us misunderstand the word resolution. It emanates from the term resolve, and when you resolve to do something it becomes non-negotiable. Anyone treating a new year's resolution in this way is destined to achieve what they set out to for the following reason: Your brain is like a very sophisticated piece of computer hardware. But despite its extraordinary capabilities, hardware does only what it is told. It is the software that instructs the hardware. So the capability of your hardware is not an issue here - your brain can and will - if you tell it to. Question is, how is your software programmed? What back doors are you providing for your new years resolutions? What excuses are you making to justify failure?

Many people mistake wishes for resolutions. When they abandon these wishes as being unrealistic, there are no consequences, so it doesn't matter. You don't abandon a resolution. You stick with it no matter what, because it is your word to yourself and it defines your character. You have no greater critic than the face in the mirror.

The two most common new years desires are to lose weight or quit smoking. They are also the ones least likely to be kept. Lets pick on the latter - quitting smoking. The steps I'm about to share with you relate to quitting anything addictive like over-eating, drinking, substance abuse or even gambling. In this case we can narrow it down to changing behaviour in order to eradicate a harmful habit. Here are your 7 crucial steps:

1. Create the resolution: Formulate what it is you need to change
2. Create a compelling reason why you need to do it
3. Link a high personal value to your resolution (this is a very important step!)
4. Determine that your resolution is achievable
5. Take personal responsibility for its achievement
6. Set time frames for your resolution to become reality
7. Clearly spell out real consequences for non-achievement

All living creatures enact instinctive behaviour and develop habits that either serve them or handicap them. In most animals these habits are not reversible. Humans are different. In our case, even an old leopard can change its spots - if it wants to badly enough!

There is of course one last footnote. When you've rid yourself of the bad habit, there really is no turning back…ever!

Paul du Toit, Certified Speaking Professional, Author, Presentation Skills Coach, Mindset Shifter.