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Time’s up. Did you keep your resolutions from last year?
This is a time of year when people become reflective and decide to make their lives better in the upcoming year, whether be to lose weight, quit smoking, or something else. For those who failed to keep their resolutions from last year, making new ones can be a discouragement. It should not be, though. As Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, my English professor from Taylor University Fort Wayne, and the author of the book The Power of Postive Productivity, said, “For people who are not used to setting goals, creating New Year’s resolutions is an excellent way to experiment with establishing ambitions, zeroing in on a target desire, and measuring progress.”
A good resolution, he says, should be “something that is a better way of life for you. Not something somebody’s told you to do, but something you’re self-motivated to achieve.” He went on to say, “[It] should not be outrageous like lose 40 pounds in three months, but attainable and realistic, yet challenging enough to be interesting like lose 10 pounds in three months.” It should also be specific, not abstract. Don’t say, ‘I’m going to manage my money more effectively.’ Instead, say, ‘I will put five-percent of my paycheck into a money market account each payday.” Having measurable goals will make it it easier to keep track of your on-going progress and be encouraged.
To insure you keep your resolution, Dr. Hensley recommends you do three things. “First, put your future reward in front of you so that you can see it each day.” If you want to lose weight to fit into a new dress before your class reunion in the summer, display the dress somewhere where you can see it every day. “Second, chart your progress so that you can measure your ongoing success.” If you have savings bonds, pull out the folder you are keeping them in to prove to yourself that you are starting to save and invest. “Third, meet with [a] person each week who will quiz you on your work, your progress, [and] your goals. Make this someone who will provide perspective for you, perhaps even chastise you if you start to slip.”
For those who are not good at setting goals, Dr. Hensley had this last piece of advice: “It would be a good idea to go to the library to get some motivational CDs to listen to while in the car or on the treadmill. They will provide inspiration and keep folks focused on their positive goals. Also, there are good books about managing time, getting organized, and setting goals. The more you put into setting and following through on worthy resolutions, the more likely you will be to see them carried out to fulfillment.”
Even after four years of having “Doc” in the classroom, I myself still have much to learn about setting and accomplishing goals. This is especially important to me as a writer. I finished writing my first novel this year and submitted it to a publisher, but it took me five years to complete the book. Mind you, college interrupted all of that, but I was still disapointed that I put it off as long as I did. That’s why one of my resolutions this year is to finish a second novel. As per Doc’s advice, I will set a daily quota of words to write for the novel, probably 500-1,000 words a day. That may not seem like much, but you’d be shocked at how fast that can accumulate (and how hard it can be to hammer out that many!)
I’ve also resolved to start saving money for long-term goals like going to graduate school or buying a house. In which case, I will need to set aside a certain percentange of each of my paychecks to be put into a savings account. Again, it will not seem like much, but with a good interest rate and consistent deposits, it will grow quickly.
My own piece of advice to you resolution-makers is to be flexible. If you set a goal that a few weeks into the year you find is too high for you to achieve, instead of being discouraged, change it to something you can achieve. These achieving goals takes discipline, and most people need time to learn new disciplines. As the Chinese proverb says, “Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” Unlike on the highway, you will not get a ticket for moving slowly through life. All that matters is that you are moving forward.
If you reach your goal early, set a new one. Keep challenging yourself to be better than who you are. You will be surprised how much you can achieve in as little as a year.
Have a great New Year!
Nathan is the newest addition to the News-Banner news staff.
by NATHAN MARSHAND
He can be reached at <nathan@news-banner.com>
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