How Are Those New Year’s Resolutions Going?

So you reviewed the past year and set some ambitious goals for 2010. One month in, what progress have you made towards their achievement? A New York Times article quoted a survey suggesting that a third wouldn’t even make it to the end of January.

According to the same article “Nearly 40 percent of those surveyed attribute breaking their resolutions to having too many other things to do, while 33 percent say they simply aren’t committed to the resolutions they set. But experts say the real problem is that people make the wrong resolutions. The typical resolution often reflects a general desire, rather than a specific goal.”

The question that struck me when writing about New Year’s Resolutions is whether they form part of a systematic process of planning ones life or whether they are merely an obligation to do something about the occasion? A list of things to do, prompted by an anniversary is not a sound foundation to build one’s future upon!

Have you thought through the purpose of your life? Do you have a vision of how you will fulfil your purpose? Are you clear about your values, your talents and your passion? Only when you have clarified these building blocks are you in a position to construct the framework for your ideal life.

With a framework like that in place you are in a position to begin setting goals which will form the project plan for your life. Clarity about purpose and passion, and a clear link between these and your goals will provide the commitment to act and to persevere. With a sound plan in place New Year becomes an opportunity to review progress and adjust the plan.

So what’s the point? If your resolutions were merely a wish list to mark the occasion, today is as good a day as any to begin building a master plan for your life.