How to keep your resolutions this year

New year's resolutions, we all make them, well almost everyone... all except for the non-establishmentarians out there. We do appreciate your individuality, but before you strike down the idea of resolutions, consider this...even though everyone is doing it, resolutions can be a good thing.

Here's why...

From time to time it's important to take an inventory of our finances, lifestyle, diet, reading, prayer, Bible, church, time with family, time with our kids, activity level, health, and so much more. Considering resolutions alone is a humbling step as we realize the habits or excessive commitments we had over time. Still, there are many things we need to get done that have been on hold. This evaluation time sets a clear prioritization of time and puts first things first.

So, in making a resolution, we should consider the priority level, make a written schedule. Written goals that are placed in a prominent place where we see them often like a daytimer or refrigerator are more likely to be followed both because of memory & the commitment made to write them down.

To stay on a long-term goal, set smaller goals along the way. Also, identify and commit to forego compromises along the way. I could go on and on about the dangers of compromise. Likely, compromise brought you to the point where you now need to make a resolution.
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Here are some things you need to know about resolutions:

#1 Resolutions help restore or create a better balance. You need overall balance in your life but at times it may need to be heavy in one category. Resolutions help us see the prioritization more clearly and realign. If your resolutions don't prioritize your time better, reconsidered it. What do I mean by balance? Think of a pie. Your life is broken up into slices of time and commitment. You can only slice a pie so many times and it becomes ridiculous. Are you trying to slice the pie again? Too much is too much. Each activity will not get enough of you. Look at that pie again, which slices are dedicated to you? Yes, you. You give to work, spouse, kids, relatives. Did you give time to you? Look back at the pie again. Are all the slices activity? You need to plan downtime too. Take several generous slices for prayer, Bible, recreational reading, fishing, and thinking time. We rush too much. Why? We are all only rushing to the end of life and start of the eternal. Stop to enjoy the flowers along the way.

#2 Resolutions require humility and selflessness. It is hard to admit you didn't take enough time or dedicate the right effort in any category. Reevaluate your efforts. Drop good things for great things.

#3 Resolutions require discipline. Successful people in any endeavor must learn and practice strict committed discipline.   

#4 Resolutions require persistence and determination. Anything worthwhile will take investment. You must be willing to stick in there for the long haul until you are successful. One of my coworkers gave me a small paperweight for my desk that stated it well, "You only fail when you stop getting up." That is good advice. Most people become masters of giving up. They don't address their own psychology. If you have stinking thinking, negativity, self-loathing, or a give-up attitude, get determined to address this problem first and don't compromise.

#5 Resolutions become new good habits over time. Some say it takes consistency over 30-45 days. I recently heard Dr Raul Saranno says it takes as long as 63 days! This quantity of time varies for all of us. I'd probably tend to agree with Dr Saranno. In either case, it's going to take some time before this becomes ingrained. It's less painful, inconvenient or difficult to stick to the resolution after this point because it has become a part of your lifestyle. So, look at your lifestyle and say, "what would I like for it to look like instead of what it looks like now?" Then, continue to do and add to this new habit. You must be realistic in how radical the change is though. If you say, "I need to read the Bible and pray," but you are doing zero now, then to do 7 days a week is unrealistic. Start out slowly adapting. Commit to once a week and see if you can keep it up. Then add a second day. If you can do this for a while then try 3 times a week. Finally, try every day. This might be a slow 4-month ramp-up. That's ok. Every month you are getting better. If you try every day immediately, you will do it for maybe 2 months then quick until next Jan 1st rolls around. It's the same with workouts or anything else you are doing. Good intentions are nice, but achievement is much better.

So, this year write and schedule a realistic, priority balanced, disciplined, committed, persistent, and determined goal to improve your life and that of those around you. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will get to that goal. Start and don't look back. All people have different goals so customize yours. Many blessings on your resolutions this year.

* Note: Remember to keep spiritual priorities as a top priority on your list, prayer, time in the Word, family devotionals, church attendance, service, missions, etc.