Faced with long lists of New Year’s resolutions and pronouncements of things to do and not do during the new year, I ask “what for?” After we have listed down things we resolve to do during the year, what then? Do we actually go on and stay faithful to our pronouncements? Or do we just go on with our lives and remember our list only after we have “violated” it?
The practice of listing down New Year’s resolutions, I have come to realize, has a more important purpose than to make us simply declare our desire to change our bad ways or to do good. I think that listing down New Year’s resolutions has the greater purpose of opening our eyes to what we have become and what we have yet to become. It should be an acknowledgement of the things we have achieved… a reaffirmation of the things we believe in… a reassessment of what we have become… a re-checking of our goals in life… and a vow to actually do something to become the person we want to be.
Imagine that you are going up a long and winding staircase. You are now at a landing. Stop. Look inside and outside yourself and get a clear picture of who you are in the present time. What have you become as a result of past experiences? What lessons have left indelible imprints on your person? What values that you hold are non-negotiable? Write everything down. Make a self-portrait.
Once you have everything down in writing, assess yourself. Do you like who you have become? What do you want to change about who you are? Are you willing to make these changes? How do you actually want to live your life? What do you actually want to achieve in your life? What are you aspiring for?
In one of my readings, I came across a quote that goes “if it is not in writing, it is not a GOAL, it is a WISH, a DREAM, a NEVER-HAPPEN.” If you want to achieve something, the first thing you have to do is to visualize it and write it down. You can keep a journal or you may choose to simply write down your goal on a sheet of paper and post it where you will always see it. Put your goals in writing. What are your short term goals? your long term goals? How do you see yourself 5 years from now? 10 years from now? 15 years from now?
Now that it is clear where you want to go, make your action plan. What are the things you have to do to attain your goals? Take small steps. Compartmentalize into important facets of your life – your career, your relationships, your physical appearance, your spirituality etc.. Your action plan should be realistic and doable. Open your mind and heart. You have to be willing to take these steps. If your action plan is to set aside 10 minutes everyday as your personal time, make sure you get your 10 minutes to yourself. Do not get up and do the laundry or pick up the phone or clean up the mess in the kitchen… these chores have their own time slot.
Be willing to make small changes along the way… to revise your plan as you go… not for the worse but for the better. Sometimes you have to retrace your steps to get to the right path… but be careful not to wander off too far in the wrong direction. That’s why it is important that your goals and action plans are in writing... so you can revisit it and check your progress.
Remember that your renewal is a continuing process. Be patient with yourself. Be happy with yourself. What is important is that you are moving towards what you really want to achieve, towards what you really want to become. Take the first step: decide on what you want to achieve. Then draw up and be faithful to your action plan. And then watch yourself metamorphose into your dream self. • • • January 4, 2006 • • •
The practice of listing down New Year’s resolutions, I have come to realize, has a more important purpose than to make us simply declare our desire to change our bad ways or to do good. I think that listing down New Year’s resolutions has the greater purpose of opening our eyes to what we have become and what we have yet to become. It should be an acknowledgement of the things we have achieved… a reaffirmation of the things we believe in… a reassessment of what we have become… a re-checking of our goals in life… and a vow to actually do something to become the person we want to be.
Imagine that you are going up a long and winding staircase. You are now at a landing. Stop. Look inside and outside yourself and get a clear picture of who you are in the present time. What have you become as a result of past experiences? What lessons have left indelible imprints on your person? What values that you hold are non-negotiable? Write everything down. Make a self-portrait.
Once you have everything down in writing, assess yourself. Do you like who you have become? What do you want to change about who you are? Are you willing to make these changes? How do you actually want to live your life? What do you actually want to achieve in your life? What are you aspiring for?
In one of my readings, I came across a quote that goes “if it is not in writing, it is not a GOAL, it is a WISH, a DREAM, a NEVER-HAPPEN.” If you want to achieve something, the first thing you have to do is to visualize it and write it down. You can keep a journal or you may choose to simply write down your goal on a sheet of paper and post it where you will always see it. Put your goals in writing. What are your short term goals? your long term goals? How do you see yourself 5 years from now? 10 years from now? 15 years from now?
Now that it is clear where you want to go, make your action plan. What are the things you have to do to attain your goals? Take small steps. Compartmentalize into important facets of your life – your career, your relationships, your physical appearance, your spirituality etc.. Your action plan should be realistic and doable. Open your mind and heart. You have to be willing to take these steps. If your action plan is to set aside 10 minutes everyday as your personal time, make sure you get your 10 minutes to yourself. Do not get up and do the laundry or pick up the phone or clean up the mess in the kitchen… these chores have their own time slot.
Be willing to make small changes along the way… to revise your plan as you go… not for the worse but for the better. Sometimes you have to retrace your steps to get to the right path… but be careful not to wander off too far in the wrong direction. That’s why it is important that your goals and action plans are in writing... so you can revisit it and check your progress.
Remember that your renewal is a continuing process. Be patient with yourself. Be happy with yourself. What is important is that you are moving towards what you really want to achieve, towards what you really want to become. Take the first step: decide on what you want to achieve. Then draw up and be faithful to your action plan. And then watch yourself metamorphose into your dream self. • • • January 4, 2006 • • •
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