By: Alvin G Donovan III

    Okay, so you have resolved that 1998 needs to be better than 1997. Many people make New Years resolutions and then try in vain to keep them. Is there anything that you can do to actually make and keep those resolutions?

1. State your resolutions in positive terms. The very first step is to make sure you are making the right kind of resolutions. Instead of stating the resolution in a negative way such as "I do not want to be so broke" you would state the resolution as "I want to Make More Money NOW"
   • The reason for this is the human mind can only respond when you give it something to achieve. When you give your mind something to avoid the mind has to first make a picture of what you want to avoid and then cancel it out. By that time you are halfway to achieving exactly what you want to avoid.
   • Ask yourself questions like "What is not perfect yet? What exactly do I want? What is happening now? What is the difference?" Donovan says they will help you to frame your resolution in a positive manner.
2. Act as if you cannot fail in terms of belief and physiology. Change your limiting beliefs. Henry Ford once said "If you believe you will fail you are correct, when you believe you will succeed you are entirely correct." In order to actually live up to your resolutions you need to have the right empowering beliefs about them. Ask yourself "If I knew I could not fail, what would I do? What if I were absolutely certain of success, what activities would you pursue, what actions would you take?"
3. Be specific in terms of what you will see, hear and feel. Engage all of your senses in describing the results you want. The more sensory rich your resolution, the more you will empower your brain to create your desire. Ask yourself "What will I see? What will I hear? What will I feel?" Also, be sure to set a specific completion date and/or term.
4. Have an evidence procedure to tell you when you achieve your resolution. (Otherwise, how will you know when you get there?) You need to make a road map to tell you how far you are on your journey to realizing your resolutions". The way to do that is to ask yourself "How will I look? How will I feel? What will I see and hear in my external world after I have achieved my outcome?" The reason for this is if you don't know how you will know when you have achieved your goal, you may already have it. You need to focus on specific ways you will know the resolution has been realized.
5. Be in control. The resolution must be initiated and maintained by you. Your resolution must be initiated and maintained by you. It must not be dependant upon other people having to change themselves for you to achieve your outcomes. Ask yourself if you are sure your resolution reflects things that you can and will affect directly.
6. Keeping resolutions means changes have to be made. In order for you to actually keep your resolutions, you will need to make certain changes in your life". You need to examine what kind of person you would have to be to attain your resolution. You need to ask yourself "What are some of the many things I am willing to do to make it the way I want it?"
7. You need to give something up. There is something you will have to let go of in order to actually keep your resolution. "What prevents you from having the things you desire right now? What are you willing to no longer do in order to make it the way you want it? How can you enjoy the process while you do what is necessary to make it the way you want it?"

    Well, there you have it. Now, don't make and keep too many resolutions too soon with these strategies.