"The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective."
- G.K. Chesterton
With the New Year around the corner, a lot of us take the opportunity to make changes in our lives. These could be, for example; updating skills, losing weight, quitting tobacco...things that we have struggled with before but have not been able to manage, or which have been at the back of our minds. We look at the New Year as a time to start afresh, on a clean slate. However, don't put the past year behind you just yet! There is a lot you can learn from it.
According to Einstein, insanity means doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results! So if you find yourself stuck over and over with the same resolutions and the same results, either you need to change your goals or change your approach in getting there! Look back at your resolutions in the year gone by and evaluate your success.
Ask yourself:
§ Till when were you able to maintain the changes?
§ What helped you maintain those changes, even if temporary?
§ What caused you to stop putting in efforts?
§ What prevented you from keeping your resolutions?
§ Which strategies were most effective in keeping your goals?
§ What did not work?
§ Were your goals too idealistic and unachievable?
Wayne Dyer, a renewed self help author, says "If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." So reflect on the above questions and use your insights to change your approach to the resolutions in the New Year ahead.
Some people find that keeping the exact same resolutions year after year can be de-motivating because, if we have not been able to keep them, our belief in ourselves that we can do it will be low. Besides that, it can get boring! So change it up a bit and try a new goal this year.
Choose your battles
If you have too many goals, let go of some and focus on a few. Focus on goals that are important and are actually going to impact you. Ask yourself - why am I setting this particular goal for myself? Your reasons will determine your motivation in sticking to your resolution. And remember, set goals for yourself, not for someone else.
Stop doing the unnecessary
This time around, make your resolution a priority. This could mean that while thinking about what to do, also think about what not to do! Reduce doing inessential things that drain your time like checking your Facebook account multiple times a day and making unnecessary phone calls. Watch just 2 episodes of "Friends" instead of 5!
Commit to keep trying
If you do fail and miss a walk or sneak a cigarette, don't beat yourself up about it. Make a note of what triggered this particular setback and plan how to tackle it the next time you face it. See what you can learn from your errors and slip-ups. You can make a commitment to yourself beforehand that if you do fail, you will vow to get back on track.
Planning is an essential step. So do things differently this year round and spend some time reflecting and planning your approach. And remember, as Frederick Douglass said, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress."
raghuvir on 13 Aug 2015, 05:35 AM
what is ionised calcium,& how it works?