A New Year for a New You!

"For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning." -T. S. Eliot

So here we are at the beginning of the new year and what does that mean?  It's resolution time.  It's time to determine what in our life is going to change.  How many of us truly accomplish what we set out to do?  Not many of us.  I believe that the reason why many New Year's resolutions fall apart is because the goal is usually unattainable.   The goals you want to achieve are too grand.   Let me open your eye on a couple of fun ways to achieve your goals this year.


Step 1: Writing the goals.
When writing my goals, I like to focus on two areas: health and personal.  You probably have the same types of goals.  What's different for me is the method that I use to write the goal.  I write a SMART goal (all my friends at work just gave a collective ARGH!) Trust me it works.


Writing a SMART goal narrows your goal to an attainable time bound achievement.  When writing your goal, you must keep the five letters (SMART) in mind.  


Your goal must be:  
S: specific
M: measurable 
A: attainable
R: realistic 
T: time bound






Here is a great article that goes more in depth on each of the letters. 


Watch the video below for some more information and examples:

Instead of writing a goal that will take the whole year to acheive, I like to set my goals to be achieved within a few months.  I can always rewrite the goal if I did not achieve it.  Start small.  Don't set yourself up for failure.  


So what are my goals for the next few months?


Health: By February 19, 2012, I will achieve a waist/hip ratio of 0.8 by doing a cardio exercise (stationary bike or treadmill) for at least 30 minutes three times a week.


By June 1, 2012, I will bench press 155 pounds by continuing to go to my personal trainer two times a week.


Personal: Ok, I can't think of a personal one right now but as soon as I can think of one I will write it here in the comment section.


Step 2: Create a Vision Board.
Make a visual representation of what you want your goals to look like.  Use the internet or magazines to get pictures of what you want.  Paste them together with inspirational sayings into a collage and place it somewhere where you will see it everyday.  Be sure you focus on those things and soon you will see that they will start appearing in your life.  


Here are some examples:

I will post mine as soon as I create it.

Step 3. Stop being so hard on yourself.

Sometimes we look in the mirror and we hate the person that we see because we have allowed ourselves to get to the state that we are in.  I want you to stop beating yourself down for what has happened in the past.  It's in the past.  Let it go.  Make today the day that you are going to start loving yourself and putting yourself first.  I know a lot of women (and some men) put their family's needs before their own.  Unfortunately, if you don't start taking care of yourself you will no longer be able to take care of your family.  

I found a song this week that I think will really hit home the message.  I want you to image that you are standing in front of a mirror and you are singing (or saying for those of us who can't hold a note :) ) the lyrics to yourself.  Listen carefully to the lyrics.  

Don't give up on yourself.  Open your eye to the new you in the New Year.


Peace,
Mark