Let’s face it: New year resolutions don’t work most of the times. They hardly get into the second month. But why should new year resolutions work, when we take only a few days/weeks to prepare for a goal that could take months or even years?

I know several reasons as to why many new year resolutions do not work:

• Having hardly fulfilled expectations by end year, one makes make rash choices that could help cover up for failure to meet some goals.
• New year somehow allows you to move on (new year new stuff)
• Goal statements for a new year are too weak to motivate you into action. That’s why you feel much better watching movies and movies in an entire weekend you intended to declutter the house. You, driven by your feelings, would prefer the pleasure of video entertainment to house clearing. But you would rather declutter your house than stream videos if you were expecting important guests at your house. The strength of motivation towards a goal makes the difference.
• Goal doesn’t have a clear strategy/plan that could support the success of goals. A generalized goal inspires a generalized action. Similarly, a clear goal inspires specific, strategic and timely actions. A clear goal increases the probability of its success
• The pain/loss of failing at a goal is not strong enough to push you into action. Why care when you got almost nothing to lose? The success of a goal is more likely when the outcome of a goal affects other things in your life e.g., an anticipate vacation trip may cause you to work harder, save more money, do more physical exercise and eat healthily – because you can’t stand missing out on the trip this time around or be the weakest member of the expedition team. And so you work hard, save more money and take physical exercise more seriously.

These are a few reasons as to why new year resolutions do not work, for far too often we hope for new and better life while doing enough to make it possible.

Here are a few suggestions in support of your goals achievement:

• Think long-term. Do not live in short life cycles whose success is significant now, but vanity many years to come. Think through the success you want five years from now, and then set your 2018 goals in such a manner as to be critical for your overall five-year success plan
• Money is not always the problem. Be familiar with other things besides money that affects your success story. Consider the environment, the people, the opportunities, risks, and consequences that come with your goal. Prepare for them before acting towards your goal.
• It’s very important. Refine your knowledge and your skill relevant to your goals. Knowledge is a good inspiration and strong antidote to fear, discouragement, haters, and envy which shall try to hold you back.
• It begins interesting and fun but gets monotonous and boring along the way. Develop good habits that will support you when the going is difficult and uninspiring.

Please take some time to evaluate reasons as to why your goals don’t work out. There is always a gap between where you are and where you want to be. Filling in this gap requires new knowledge, new skills and new practice (habits). It needs a new environment and new people.

Where are you in your life? Where are you coming from? Where do you want to be? What does it take? What can you do regarding your goals? You won’t get the best answers right away because great things take time.

Whatever the answers you have, ACT on it, for actions bring thoughts to life. Start where you are, use what you have and do what you can.

Lead your life to reach your goals; live deliberately.