ARE YOU READY TO BRING “IN” THE NEW AND “OUT” WITH THE OLD FOR THIS NEW YEAR?

It’s the beginning of the New Year and with it you may have expectations for what you’d like to see happen. Have you challenged yourself to make any significant changes in your life? Have you made any conscious decisions about what you really want to do differently this year? This process of self-reflection is necessary to evaluate your current status. By taking a personal inventory of what has occurred in the last year, you will be in a better position to determine where you are right now. By allowing yourself to look back you will be probably be able to quickly pinpoint your issues of dissatisfaction. And make better choices for your future.

An easy way to begin this process is to ask the following:

What are my successes?

What are my failures?

Next, what do you feel is within your own personal power to effectively change? What is better to leave behind? If you have some generated some solid ideas to improve your current circumstances, congratulate yourself! You have already gained momentum to move forward.

3 SIMPLE QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED:

What do you want?

What’s in your way?

Who do you need to become?

Next, to move past the concept thinking stage you will need to make a plan, set goals and commit to act upon them. The difference between a having a realistic goal and having a dream are three key factors: accountability, a timeline and be able to have measurable results. All the wishing and hoping will not create the tangible quantifiable results you alone seek to accomplish. The old expression “Talk is cheap” fits well here. A true commitment to effect change and a plan of action steps insures you much greater chances of success.

How will you hold yourself accountable?

How will you be able to measure your results?

What do you need to do to set yourself up to accomplish your intended goals?

How will you plan to reward yourself?

It’s 2012. Now is the time to begin to assess your personal challenges. Seize the moment to invest the necessary time and energy for yourself. You are worth it! Make a conscious decision to change whatever it is that hasn’t worked well for you this past year. Become more pro-active and aspire to do what you want this New Year. Next year at this time, you’ll feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.  You matter. Make this your best year yet! So out with the old, bring in the new you!

Note: Next month I will address how to establish goals and be accountable to obtain your desired measurable results.

I invite your comments.