August Resolution #1: Take Action!

This morning I was reviewing my goals for this year. I needed to do some revisions and make some changes. I do this on a regular basis.

Normally people think about their "resolutions" in late December, or, on New Year's Day. They write down their goals for the upcoming year. Many times these goals are referred to as "resolutions." But when August rolls around, for many people, their goals and resolutions have been long since forgotten.

People abandon their resolutions because they either had no plan, or they did not follow their plan. They may have looked at their goals on a regular basis. They may even written up affirmations to say aloud every day. But those kinds of activities will not magically bring your goals into reality.

I am aware that there are countless ideas, suggestions, methods and programs designed to help people achieve their goals. Many tools exist, such as writing exercises, vocalizing affirmations, visualizing goals or even carrying pieces of paper around as reminders.

Some methods and activities can be very helpful. One method may help one person while another method will help someone else. But unless a plan exists that includes action towards reaching that goal, it just will not happen.

For example, let's say that your goal is to arrive at and maintain a certain body weight. You write your goal down on paper. You vocalize it and visualize it in your mind. You are excited about reaching your goal.

Those are all wonderful tools to help your mind stay on course and to remember your destination, but unless you change your eating habits and your exercising habits, nothing is going to change. You won't be losing any weight. In fact, you might keep gaining!

You need an action plan that is specific to your goal. Then, you take the action faithfully. And if you need to revise the plan, or tweak it, then that's what you do.

This morning, as I was reviewing my specific goals for the year, I made some changes because one of my goals is now a reality. Last January I had a goal to have a membership website up and running this year. I looked at that goal every day, prayed about it, and, had positive thoughts and affirmations throughout the day.

But, if that's all that I would have done, the website would not be up and running today. I had a plan and I worked that plan. I revised the plan along the way, but the goal was still the same.

So, now, getting the site up and running is no longer a goal. I have new goals for the site. I have written them down. I am exited about them. I pray about it, I think and speak positively about it, and, I have an action plan.

Methods and programs can be a great help. They can keep you focused on the goal. They can serve to remind you of where you want to go. But they, in and of themselves, cannot bring your goals into reality.

I know that you have probably seen advertisements, just like I have that lure people into thinking that there is a "magical formula." Just do this 3 times a day, and "presto" your whole life will change! I saw an ad once for a CD that you listen to before you go to bed and you can loose weight! They even added, "Without changing your diet or exercise!"

Whether it's get rich quick, instant weight loss or perfect abs in thirty seconds, why do so many people buy into those kinds of things? Maybe it's because we live in such an instantaneous culture, with instant potatoes, and a full meal in thirty seconds from the drive-through, or instant messaging. People have become lazy and are looking for the quick, instant fix for everything.

By all means, use whatever tools or methods that help you to stay on course. Be sure to guard your thoughts. Keep your thinking positive. But for every goal that you have, implement and revise an action plan. Then, take the action necessary to see that goal come to pass. And, try to do something every day to reach your goal, no matter how small or insignificant it seems.

So, are you ready to revise your August resolutions?