How to resolve to do it and stick with it:
It’s that time of year again. Many of us have made our resolutions, whether haphazardly spoken on the 1st of January, or a 3 page meticulous plan written and edited before the clock struck 12. Regardless of the method, many of us have resolved to change something within our lives in 2011.
There is something about a new year, a fresh start almost, that makes us believe this will be the year, that we change the bad behaviors, or habits in our lives.
Unfortunately, simply saying or writing or planning to change does not make it happen. Simply wanting to change is rarely enough, as most of us realize looking back at our resolutions from 2010.
In the Harper House, we do quarterly goals. Every 3 months, we reevaluate and reassess what’s working and what’s not, to see the changes in our lives that we desire.
Regardless of your methodology here are some tips to help you succeed:
1.) Be prepared to fail: Anytime in life, when you are trying to make your flesh do something it doesn’t want to do, something it has never done, or something taxing, expect resistance. We’ve been allowing ourselves to eat whatever we want for 28 years; expect that it may take more than a few hours to get your flesh under control. Or you have been spending your money as soon as you get paid since you’ve had a job, it may take more than a few paychecks to start new habits.
Realize, you will fail; you will make a mistake, but decide that when you do, it does not mean you give up. Failure and giving up are two different things. Just do better the next day, take it one day at a time.
2.) Expect to Succeed: Many people get an attitude of “I’ll fail anyways, so why bother?” They fail before they even begin! Don’t be pessimistic! Believe in yourself. Trust God that he will give you the strength when you are tempted to give in to old bad habits.
Make plans as if you will succeed. Save money to buy new clothes for when you loose the weight, or make plans for the money you will save this year. Whatever it is in your life that you have resolved to change, include it in your future plans. The old adage rings true, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
3.) Have a game plan: Don’t simply make your resolution and see what happens, you are doomed to failure if that is what you do. Football teams don’t show up to a game to play and have no game plan. They would surely loose. You must have a plan to get you there.
a.) Be specific: As I mentioned earlier, we have quarterly goals. Things we are working towards for each 3-month period. If my overall resolution was to loose weight, then in the next 3 months, I may try to restrict my diet consistently, and loose 15 pounds, while the next three months I may try to add exercise into my routine etc. If at the end of the 3 months, I find I didn’t do perfect with my diet; at least I was further ahead than if I had no plan at all.
Because my 3-month goal is to diet, what does that look like on a monthly, weekly even daily basis?
You need to have a realistic goal, and have a plan to follow through.
b.) Be accountable: It is so easy to give up on a resolution or goal that no one else knows about. If you truly wish to succeed, get other people involved. All the adults in my house are currently eating low-carb, it helps when I so desperately want a candy bar, that my sister or husband might see me, and know I cheated. Sometimes peer pressure is good!
c.) Be led: Don’t try to do this alone. Rely on God to help you! Examine your life, find your needs, and where you desire change, and ask God for help. Ask for wisdom on the best way to do it. Allow yourself to be led, and realize you don’t need to do it all on your own, but will be more successful with God’s help. Also, find scriptures that will help you renew your mind in that area.
Finally, Realize that some changes and habits will take time, and perseverance on your part. Don’t give in just because it gets difficult.
If you haven’t made any resolutions or goals, I encourage you to, it doesn’t have to be Jan 1st for you to decide to change! There is no time like the present!
Here are some of our goals for the next 3 months:
Family Life:
Add exercise to our life style
*Add one family activity that would include 30 minutes of exercise each week.
Teach the Children more Scripture:
*Thursday Nights sit down with the kids and go over doctrine: ie what do we believe about faith, healing, sin etc. and scriptures to back it up.
*Teach them a new memory verse each month and discuss what it means. (We also chose the verses ahead of time, this month we are doing Mark 11:23)
These are just some of the many goals we have for the next year. We have goals in Family life, our Spiritual walk, our ministry, our finances, and in our health. In almost every area of life there are new habits we are trying to create!
Good luck to you in your resolutions! Stay resolute! Don’t give up!
