I Resolve to Defuse New Year Resolution Landmines!

New Year resolutions don't magically transform from nebulous ideas to fast and firm results overnight. They don't become 'real' without careful forethought, clarity of purpose, a common sense system for planning and doing, and lots of elbow grease. If you are noodling some changes that you would love to make, or perhaps a dream that you passionately want to pursue, consider this affirmation as a starting point: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.

Instead of making a long 'tired' list of negative things that you feel obligated to change in your life - why not change the paradigm, think outside the box, and be willing to color outside the lines. Make just one positive resolution, or pursue one positive theme, which will enable you to learn new things, offer challenge and excitement, and bring happiness, joy and reward to your life. Make a promise to yourself to pursue one resolution 'just for you' in the New Year. If you are not sure what you want to 'resolve', do some brainstorming and create a Lifetime Resolution List consisting of at least 100 things that you would love to do, be, see, feel, experience, create, achieve, learn, try, change, or have in your life. As you brainstorm, ask yourself, if you had all the time, skills, knowledge, money, opportunity, and support in the world, what would you do? No holds barred. List everything large and small, significant and insignificant, realistic, or seemingly unrealistic. This is an exercise in dreaming large, daring to dream the impossible dream, and opening one's mind to all the wonderful possibilities.

Next choose just one large dream ,or theme from your list that truly excites and inspires you - and pursue it with patience, passion and persistence in the coming year. If you need help visualizing a process to launch your effort, wrap your arms around this easy to understand formula: Cherished Dream + Specific One Sentence Resolution + Daily Goals = Success, Achievement & Reward. My personal favorite Lifetime Resolution is to exercise regularly for good health and happiness: I Resolve To . . . Exercise for at least 30-minutes daily by walking, biking, swimming, stretching, doing Yoga, weight training, or playing tennis, so that I can maintain my ideal weight (i.e. 125 pounds), be fit and toned (i.e. look good in my clothes, and feel good about myself), be healthy (i.e. lower my cholesterol and blood pressure), and maintain a good mood and positive outlook.

If you're ready to roll your sleeves up and build a plan - the I Resolve To . . . System For Success is useful for mapping virtually any resolution. The 'Do's' consist of five simple steps for planning and implementing resolutions: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, And Do It Daily. The 'Don'ts' include five common sense strategies that can help you to avoid obstacles and landmines: Procrastinate, Give In To Fear of Success Or Failure, Get Discouraged, Grow Bored & Weary, Or Give Up. Armed with a Lifetime Resolution List, the I Resolve To . . . Formula and I Resolve To . . . System For Success, you are ready to get moving. Before you begin brainstorming, planning and plotting for the New Year, pay close attention to the following 'Resolution Killers' . . . that way you can render them harmless before they stall your progress.

25 New Year Resolution Landmines:

1. Resolution is too vague. Solution: Create a specific one-sentence resolution that includes the 'how, what & why' of achieving your resolution.
2. Too many resolutions leading to overwhelm and lack of focus. Solution: Make one major, life-altering resolution at a time.
3. Wrong resolution chosen with no thought or analysis. Solution: Do your homework and choose one resolution that evokes passion and interest.
4. Unrealistic expectations - the bar for achievement is set way to high. Solution: Don't bite off more than you can chew, take small steps.
5. Unrealistic tasks. Solution: Take one small step - one daily goal - one day at a time; forget multi-tasking and overniight results.
6. No true desire, commitment, or passion for your resolution. Solution: Desire is key.
7. No research into what is required to achieve the resolution. Solution: Educate yourself about the 'who, what, when, where & why' of achievement.
8. No long and short-range plan. Solution: Build weekly and monthly plans; review and revise goals daily.
9. No Timeline and no deadlines for completing daily tasks. Solution: Build realistic timelines and set deadlines.
10. No Daily Resolution Diary, journal, or written record. Solution: Record your daily journey.
11. No motivation and follow through. Solution: Keep your eye on the prize and reward yourself, often, for accomplishments.
12. No method of measuring progress, determining success, giving reward. Solution: Set specific daily tasks, record progress, and review weekly.
13. No accountability. Solution: A journal, timeline, buddy, family support, and a mentor can help keep you on track.
14. No organization. Solution: Build a written plan, and timeline with deadlines that will create 'structure' for daily tasks.
15. No discipline. Solution: Show up every day whether you want to, or not.
16. No commitment to daily action. Solution: Showing up every day helps make your resolution a permanent (not fleeting) 'daily habit'.
17. No buddies to work with and share ideas. Solution: Make time to cultivate buddies who share your vision and enthusiasm.
18. No mentor, clubs, or classes to provide inspiration and useful information and support. Solution: Join a club, take a class and Identify a mentor.
19. No family support. Solution: Find support from friends, colleagues and mentors; share your journey with like-minded souls.
20. Feelings of being overwhelmed due to no planning. Solution: Build a plan first, then take one small step at a time, one day at a time.
21. Procrastination. Solution: Get moving - 'just do it' - start with the easy tasks first and build momentum toward the tougher tasks.
22. Fear of success. Solution: "Yes", life will change as you make progress toward achieving your dream - embrace change and fear that comes with it.
23. Fear of failure. Solution: Embrace failure, learn from your mistakes, and move forward (failing isn't the end of the world).
24. Inability to let go of past failures and mistakes, learn lessons and move forward. Solution: Learn your lessons, let the failures go, and move on.
25. Failure to celebrate and build on each success. Solution: Celebrate your accomplishments & reap the rewards - success breeds success.

Remember: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!

Kim Simpson, a former journalist, provides communications, fundraising services and strategic planning, for Members of Congress, non-profit organizations, corporations, and associations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. A self-employed entrepreneur, with more than 30 years of experience, she launched IResolveTo.Com in 2005 in an effort to help others to achieve their New Year Resolutions, Dreams and Goals. Her motto is: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. Let's 'Go For It'.

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This article is Copyright Kim M. Simpson, I Resolve To, Inc. * All Rights Reserved.