“New Year’s Resolutions: I have ideas to succeed – here’s my list!*”
Vol. 1, No. 27, December 26th 2010
TITLE: “New Year’s Resolutions: I have ideas to SUCCEED – here’s my list!*”
INTRODUCTION
My book of the week is: “Resolutions That Work: How to make & keep new years resolutions” [Paperback] by Serge Prengel. Hence my topic is succeeding at New Year’s Resolutions.
IT WORDS FOR ME!*
For today, my word/phrase(s) are: “New Year’s Resolutions”, “commitment”, etc.
New Year’s Resolutions
“New Year’s resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year’s Day. Some examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more environmentally responsible.There are religious parallels to this secular tradition. People may act similarly during the Christian fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility. During Judaism’s New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), one is to reflect upon one’swrongdoings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness. The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually.”
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year’s_resolution
Commitment
“Commitment means to show loyalty, duty or pledge to something or someone, and can refer to: Personal commitment, interaction dominated by obligations. These obligations may be mutual, or self-imposed, or explicitly stated, or may not. Distinction is often made between commitment as a member of an organization (such as a sporting team, a religion, or as an employee), and a personal commitment, which is often a pledge or promise to ones’ self for personal growth.”
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commitment
STUDY/STATISTICS
Success rate
“Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, (a system where small measurable goals are being set, such as, a pound a week, instead of saying “lose weight”), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.[3].”
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year’s_resolution
What are the popular New Year’s resolutions?
Here are several:
“•Drink Less Alcohol
•Get a Better Education
•Get a Better Job
•Get Fit
•Lose Weight
•Manage Debt
•Manage Stress
•Quit Smoking Now
•Save Money
•Take a Trip
•Volunteer to Help Others”
(Source:USA.gov; government made easy) – http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml
S & R*NEWS ALERT*#1:”Easy ways to keep family-focused New Year’s resolutions”
(NC)-”While New Year’s Eve and the accompanying resolutions may still seem fresh in your mind, months can pass without having acted on them.
Cut yourself some slack, focus on top family priorities, incorporate technology and simplify, simplify, simplify.
Extended family
Promised to visit the in-laws more frequently, but finding it hard to find the time? Use online instant messaging and video conferencing to connect with out-of-town family and save long drives or flights for less frequent, more special in-person visits.
Date night
Made a commitment to take your spouse out-on-the-town more, but feeling that post holiday wallet pinch and back-to-work fatigue? Create special nights at home by cooking delicious meals, lighting the candles, diming the lights and capturing your meals and moments with a digital camera like the Kodak M590 Digital Camera. At the end of the year, create a photo album with pictures or your home-made events, giving them to your spouse as an easily made, romantic gift (and reminder of resolutions kept).
Increased exercise
Thought you would lose ten pounds before February, but didn’t quite make it? Ease up on the guilt and make a few simple changes the whole family can enjoy. When baking things like deserts, substitute yogurt or applesauce for butter or use half the amount in certain sauces and take the whole family out for a 20-minute, after dinner walk …no gym membership required and fresh air and good company guaranteed. Losing weight doesn’t have to be as hard as you think; with a few short-cuts and a family-team effort, the pounds will melt-off over the course of the year.”
(Source: www.newscanada.com)
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTE* #1: Wilt Chamberlain – New Year’s Resolution
Wilt Chamberlain, famed for his claim to have slept with some 20,000 women, once made a New Year’s resolution to stop fooling around so much. “He wants to find the right two or three hundred women,” Jay Leno quipped, “and settle down.”
Chamberlain, Wilton Norman [“Wilt the Stilt”] (1936-1999) American basketball player
(Source: www.anecdotage.com) [Sources: Carol Amende, If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say… Come Sit Next to Me; Isaac Asimov’s Book of Facts]
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTE* #2: Dan Miller – New Year’s Resolution
O-Town’s Dan Miller was once asked whether he had made any New Year’s resolutions. Yes, he replied: “To learn how to play bass… I set realistic resolutions. I’d never try something absurd, like giving up chocolate.”Miller, Dan (?- ) American musician [noted for various recordings with O-Town]
(Source: www.anecdotage.com)
MY LIFE & TIMES*
I desire to better myself as a person and improve my life. On January 1st, like most people, I set some goals and make New Year’s resolutions. I know that if I set my sights too high, I might not get there. I also confess that I don’t always follow through. Although I may not reach my goals, I still achieve something. In any event, I also subscribe to the credo of a good friend who says, “Aim for the stars and hit the sky!*”
New Year’s resolutions work for me. One year, then newly alone, I was VERY determined to start a social life . I needed to find single acquaintances. I made a few resolutions; and I figured out how to achieve them. I called a few people and started the ball rolling. And in a short while, I had a whole new group of unmarried friends.
THE AUTHOR: Serge Prengel
Serge Prengel is a “Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapist- Focusing Trainer”. His clinical training is in Somatic Experiencing and Core Energetics. He is licensed by N.Y. State and he works in New York City. His FOT Specialty areas are: trauma, adults, body Psychotherapy and couples. His other specialty areas are: anger management and life coaching. He is all for the life changes that one may want. He aims to set off your creative juices. His hope is to foster new perspectives leading to the new you. He uses the occasion of New Year’s and the popular pastime of making resolutions. He wants you to succeed at your resolutions. He has a strategy; and he really believes that if you follow his suggestions, you can bring about personal improvement and real change.
THE BOOK: “Resolutions That Work: How to make & keep new years resolutions” [Paperback] by Serge Prengel
This book is VERY short and sweet. The author is a man of a few words, but he makes do with less. He is very efficient in the communication of his three principles. According to him, embrace them and you will get to the promised land of a better you and better life.
CONCLUSION
It is usual for one to want to improve oneself and one’s life. However, it is noteworthy when one really tries to do it. And it is exceptional when someone actually accomplishes it. With this exercise, one gains , not only the betterment, but also, an overall positive feeling of self empowerment and satisfaction. As a further bonus, one may have some fun while getting there.
My personal comments
In my view, making New Year’s resolutions is a great custom. It might even change your life. And you could also, become a better person.
The point
A personal renewal project is a perfect perennial. Everyone should take advantage of the opportunity. It pays dividends. Here are some suggestions.
ANTOINETTE’S TIP SHEET*
A person wishing to make and accomplish a successful resolution should:
1. Examine the past year and try to figure out:
(a) “What could have gone better?”
(b) “What is causing you dissatisfaction?”
(c) “What quality being exhibited is holding you back?”
(d) “What new skill set may propel you to the next level?”
2. Leave behind any negativity that might be felt- don’t beat yourself up; instead,
2.1 Forgive yourself;
2.2 Learn from the mistakes made and move on, all the while, ensuring that you do NOT repeat the same errors.
3. Start the New Year on a positive note, striving for more;
4.Enunciate goals for the coming year and to this end,
4.1 Be reasonable in your expectations, recognizing that what you set as your goal will impact upon whether you fail and the extent achieved. Furthermore, never start what you do not intend to finish.
4.2 Choose a subject area (see the above Heading, “Popular New Year’s resolutions”, for examples.) – remember you cannot do it all and you have to start somewhere.
4.3 Prioritize – determine what area is more important to your overall success and focus on that!
4.4 Address a particular aspect, be it small or big; then, aim to correct it.
5. Break the goals down into small quantifiable baby steps; this is key to your rate of success; making each into realistic sub-resolutions; (say, for example, if you want to read 10 books, make each book a sub- resolution.)
6. Make an action plan to achieve each sub-resolution;
7. Reward yourself with a small treat after accomplishing each sub-resolution; this is essential in providing immediate gratification and encouraging you to look to the next sub-resolution;
8. Be conscious of the power of attitude; whatever you do,
8.1 Go into this with the right frame of mind: you will get it done, no excuses.
8.2 Do this with gusto – never take a “whatever-will-be … will-be” approach; this spells certain defeat.
8.3 Understand the word, “persistence” – show it!
9. Aim for the finish line; and when it is in view,
9.1 Steel your resolve;
9.2 Look into yourself for that additional effort and boost of adrenalin to push you across to victory;
Cheers – In the new year, please have the new you call the new me and we’ll do lunch*
Take it out for a spin and tell me if you agree.
And that’s my thought of the week on books, what’s yours? *
ALP
“Books are life; and they make life better!*”
CREDITS
-Web Tech: richmediasound.com
The above is a new media production of Valente under its “United Author*” program.
*TM/© 2010 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.