Improvement... With New Year's Resolutions

How do you want your life to be different when we get to New Years Eve 2008? Do you want to be at the same point you are now, or do you want to have made some progress?

What about this year? Have you made any progress towards your goals?  If so, then congratulations and well done. If not, don't beat yourself up about it - we all have pressures in life that get in the way of good intentions. 

I would, however, also encourage you not to take on a defeatist attitude about it. You chose those goals because they would improve the quality of your life or those close to you. They were, and still are, good goals.  

You are also a competent individual who has managed to accomplish a great deal in your life. A setback in one area does not make you incapable of achieving what you have chosen for yourself.

Remember, your goals are worthy of your attention and you are capable of achieving them. Why not take the time before New Years to give them some thought?

As you do, consider what prevented you from achieving them. Was it that you didn't have enough time, resources, or the support that you needed? If you can determine what prevented you from achieving them this year then you can plan to handle the problems next year. 

Like many things I talk about, you are responsible. As Stephen Covey puts it, that's "response able". You are able to choose your response to a problem. That's both good news and bad news. Bad news if you don't really want to solve the problem (and there are many who don't), and good if you do. It just takes a little courage to start moving outside of what you consider comfortable. 

Now all that and I didn't mention a word of public speaking. Why - because public speaking is only a small area of  the many resolutions that are made at this time of the year. These thoughts apply equally well to weight loss, career development, and improving relationships as they do to public speaking. 

Whatever is preventing you from making the progress you deserve - take the time to plan so that it stops impeding you. And if you happen to be progressing along fine, make sure that you acknowledge your successes and celebrate. 

Finally, if someone is asking you what you want this holiday season, consider asking them for a gift that gives you the tools and/or resources to accomplish your goals. Better yet, consider helping others out with gifts that will help them acheive their goals.

Take the time now to do this, and at News Year Eve 2008 you will be celebrating your successes.

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Copyright © 2007 David Mudie All Rights Reserved

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