Changing Resolutions into Goals?

According to statistics presented by the University of Scranton in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, forty-five percent of Americans usually make resolutions at the start of every year. In addition, seventeen percent infrequently jump on the bandwagon. Perhaps, you are amongst that group resolving to see change in the New Year?

Or, are you amongst the thirty-eight percent who already know it’s pointless and absolutely never make New Year’s Resolutions? Sadly, your opinion is borne out in the data. Only eight percent are successful.

However, forty-nine percent infrequently have success, so it may be worth a try. Even if you are standing next to me in that twenty-four percent who absolutely never had success, it’s never too late to try again.

So, who are those over-achievers who succeed? They are those young whipper-snappers just beginning adult life. Thirty-nine percent of the twenty-something’s succeed in achieving that change, while a meager fourteen percent of all of us over fifty ever make it. (I can hear those groans and “just wait until they have a couple of kids under their belt and we’ll see if they keep that resolution to lose the weight!”)

“Rise up, seniors, no excuses; accept the challenge!” I say. “We can persevere and show our own determination to shine, right alongside the cadets!”

I stopped making resolutions years ago—too many failures to bother, you know. Then I learned the real key to changing my habits.

When I changed the resolutions into measurable goals, I found success. As a Christian, I enlisted the help of the Loving, Almighty Father to be my coach. I knew enough about myself to know I’d never make it without an ever-present accountability partner. I recommend Him. He’s not only always there to remind you of the steps to achieving your goals; He’s willing to help you forgive yourself for the lapses and begin again the next day. Giving up for that Coach isn’t an option! (Picture Rocky Balboa coming up that hill, sweating like crazy with a smiley grimace on his face.)

In the Bible (Hebrews 13:5), God said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you,” so He makes a terrific partner in achieving new goals. The Apostle Paul encourages us in his letter to the Philippians, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.”(Phil. 4:13)

Seriously consider your resolutions, if you have written any down; or even if they are just swimming around in the pool of to-do’s for the moment. Are they measurable and able to be broken down into steps—even baby steps—so you can see progress along the way to the finish line? The more the steps, the more you can check off the list—my personal favorite thing to do.

With God’s help to plan and execute the steps to my goal, I lost fifty-one pounds in the first year. Although I didn’t lose nearly that much the second year, I’m still on track with the plan. Thanks to the Coach, I’ve made a real life change and feel great about it. I don’t need to put weight loss on the list for this year, because the plan is now a habit. I have moved onto goals related to writing. To God be the glory!

Go for it; you can do it!

If you’ve made any resolutions or goals for 2015, I’d like to hear about it. Just leave word in the comments, please.