A new year is approaching. It’s time to make New Year’s Resolutions, or is it?
The concept of making annual resolutions at the beginning of the calendar year is one that many people adhere to. Before we get into the actual making of resolutions let’s talk about what resolutions are.
A resolution is a declaration, an act of volition, moral courage, or mastery over self. Often a New Year’s list looks more like a child’s letter to Santa because it is a list of things that a person wants, but lacks the call to action required to obtain the goal.
Is January 1st the most appropriate date for setting your personal declarations? Yes, if that is when you want to do so. However, any time, any day is just as appropriate, the important thing is that you do it. Certainly, you must re-evaluate your list more often than annually. Just writing out a list and then filing away is a waste of time and paper.
If your list of resolutions is to be more than a wish list, what should be on it? Every item on your list needs to meet two criteria: desire and belief.
Okay, I know every list is always filled with desires, that one is easy. On the other hand, is it? The only way that you will achieve your goal is to have a burning desire to obtain it. A burning desire is more potent that just wishing you would find an envelope with $1,000 in it and your name written on the front.
A burning desire is a need, from deep down inside you. This burning is what will motivate you to do whatever it takes to accomplish your dream.
The second part of each resolution is your belief. Yes, it is true that if you do not believe that you will achieve your goal, you will not achieve it. Your belief must be more than lip service. You must believe consciously and subconsciously to make your vision reality. The subconscious often does us in. Have you ever said to your best friend, that this is the month that you will be the top salesman? You may have convinced your friend, but the little voice inside you is saying, “yeah, right-when pigs fly-ha, ha, ha”. You have effectively just cancelled out your verbal declaration.
You need to get personal with your list. Every resolution you make must be in the present. Not; I will sell 3 vacuum cleaners in January; but January is the month I sold 3 vacuum cleaners.
- You must be able to visualize the sale of 3 vacuums,
- Taste the victory of having the customer’s signature on the contract.
- Feel the thrill of sending the order to headquarters.
- Visualize that commission check.
Visualizing your success in both the real world and the pictures and thoughts inside you mind is essential.
How do you go about setting your vision? Every one of your senses needs to be engaged—meaning what you
- See
- Hear and
- Feel—both on the outside and inside your own head.
To achieve this write a detailed description of your image. Fill in all the tiny details, the more details you have filled in the more ‘real’ your vision will be.
If a goal of yours to buy a new vehicle:
- write down the exact name of the vehicle
- its color
- engine configuration
- wheel style
- seat covers
- the smell of the leather
- the feel of sitting behind the wheel
- the smile on your face reflecting back .
- from the rear view mirror
- the sound of the engine purring.
Once you have a vision formed, you must keep it in front of you. Tape the description to your computer monitor, on your bathroom mirror, taped to the sun visor of your current vehicle. Review the goal every morning when you get up, every night before you go to bed, and different times during the day. Make your vision live, hold on to it, and nurture it. Yes, it does require work. It takes action and planning. The better your visualization the quicker you will meet your goal. Sweet victory is yours
A workable list of personal resolutions need not be long. However, it does need to be detailed, precise, and filled with heart-felt, burning desires.