2016: A New Year, maybe a New You, If...

It's that time of year where people start thinking about what they will change in the new year. To some degree, I think this is a good thing!  If you listen to any media sources, you are bombarded with the talk of "resolutions".  The thing that also comes with talk of setting resolutions is how you can be successful with your resolutions, or how to not break your resolutions, or even the talk about how "X" percent of people will fail by "X" day.  

I mean come on, if there is as much talk about failing and how not to be one of those statistics, what do you think is going to happen?  You will BECOME one of those statistics!!!  Where your mind goes, your energy flows.  It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Because you know that 75% (or whatever that number is) fail at keeping their resolutions, when you begin to slip, mentally you are ok with that.  You are normal.  Most people fail, so don't feel bad.  

Here's the thing, if you are reading this, you are either a really good friend or family that want to support us.  You are trying to kill some time at work.  Or you actually care about being successful with your health and weight loss transformations. Or maybe you want to grow your online business.  ​For the sake of of this post, let's just assume you fall into that last category!

Here's some advice for you.  Instead of resolutions, I want you to write out goals.  Goals are serious, they are different.  They don't have all the baggage that resolutions have with them.  I recommend writing out new goals at least once a month.  By doing it monthly you are constantly being reminded of what you want to accomplish.  It isn't some distant thought that you had 6 months ago.  The same goals might be on your list for 6 months which is totally fine.  Next, make sure you write them out by hand on paper!  Yeah we are talking old school.  There is something that happens when your brain tells your hand to write something versus typing on a computer or phone.  

Another thing that I heard the other day about goal setting and building a life of your dreams, is that most people tend to focus on all the ways they can't accomplish something.  I can't start a new business or fitness program, I don't have the money, I don't have the time, I don't have the skills, I don't have enough friends, I don't have the education.  Just like with all the talk about resolutions and how people fail because all they hear about is how people fail, the same thing happens if your mind is wrapped around all the reasons you can't do something.  With your list of goals, I want you to write out all the reasons why you CAN and why you need to accomplish them.  It will also help when writing out your goals to write them in a definitive tone or even in a past tense.  For example, I will lose 20 lbs or I lost 20 lbs.  Rather than I want to lose 20 lbs. See the difference?  

Progress starts with a shift in your mindset.  Once your mind is right, action becomes so much easier. When there is no doubt that you will take action, your mind already has, so your body will follow.  With action comes momentum and even though you will hit some roadblocks there will be nothing that will stop you from accomplishing your goals.