Here we go again, it’s 2020, and everyone including their mama is excited that they were awarded one more year for the opportunity to make their last year’s bad habits right. Do you want to lose weight? Start January 1st; everyone will be at the local gym. You want to eat healthier, how about hire a nutritionist to make a family menu. Do you want a better attitude or spiritual growth? Then I will meet you at the church for watch hour. I’m sure if you start your year off with prayers, then, the rest of the year will be a breeze.

The question is. Why do people put themselves through the same motions every year when they know good and well that by December 31st, they will be just as depressed, fat, and unhealthy. No business would be up and running, no new marriages, and you haven’t stepped foot in your church since January.

Why do people continue to set themselves up every year? Are they motivated? How mentally prepared were they to finally make the change? Were their goals/intentions realistic? If any of these faults are the case, then it’s time to sit down and give priority to make this 2020 year different. Below are 6 tips you can put into motion to gradually start your New Years Resolution right.

• Be Realistic: My plans for this new year is simple as just being REALISTIC!!! Some people are always trying to change a behavior cold turkey, knowing that to turn a bad habit into a good one takes time. Sometimes there are drawbacks, people relapse, there are days we cheat, days we hurt, and days we just don’t want to move on with our day. With these obstacles in our path, why would you think that changing cold turkey would work out? We must allow our physical reality to catch up with our mental state of mine. We have to take one day at a time and be patient when the day doesn’t go as planned. Being too hard on yourself can set you back to give up before you give yourself that “Grand ole try.” The objective is to be realistic, push forward, and when days are tough, to not give up.
• Write it Down: The first steps to being realistic with our new year’s goals are to write down what you want. It could be anything from eating healthier/ losing weight, getting your home organized, purchasing a new home, paying off some debt, eliminating your toxic environment, returning to school, getting a new job, or starting your dream business. As you can see, individuals have a lot to accomplish in a year. Write down what you want to achieve in detail, placing priority first. I’ve learned that keeping a daily planner helps me remember what’s next. I may also check off completed task throughout the day. Please don’t get discouraged if a goal is not achieved. You can go back to it the next day. In addition to having a daily planner, you may also write down any primary goals you want to accomplish by years end, 2 to 5 years, or 10 to 20 years from now. It’s all up to you. But the first thing to do is write down all your desires, no matter how big or small.
• Be Patient: Do you know that half of the items I listed will probably take more than a year to achieve? For instance, unless you have a trust fund stashed away, coming up with the down payment for a new home will take several years of savings, monitoring your credit score, working with a real estate agent, dealing with negotiations/ inspections, escrow, getting the deed signed, and finally the keys!! The whole process takes a considerable amount of time and patience.
• Make your goals doable: The next part about being realistic is making sure that the goals you wrote down are doable. I know that last time I checked, I didn’t have a cape on my back, proclaiming to be superwoman. I’m a middle-aged single mother of three. That means that whatever resolution I set for myself must be doable, more like calculated. It has to fit the schedule of going to work, attending to my children’s needs; which includes regular doctor visits (PHP, Vision, Dental), school functions, and emergencies. I wouldn’t be a good mother if I neglected my children, just to pursue my goals. So, your resolution goals must be doable and realistic.
• Stay motivated: As adults, life happens. Our doable plan gets detoured due to the unforeseen emergency. That emergency could be anything from sickness/ death, a new edition to the family, taking care of loved ones, a job promotion/ demotion, or a significant purchase. Yes, anything and everything crazy can happen in under a year so deal with it. Luckily for you, you wrote your doable, new year’s resolution goals down; right? So just like when life happens and pulls you away from the new you, motivation to change can always lead you back to your goals.
• Believe in Yourself: What’s that I hear whispering in my ear; a nay-sayer? It’s probably your self-doubt. At this point, you have eliminated all the toxic and detrimental people out of your life in 2019; right? So, if you are still feeling that, you cannot or will never be able to achieve your new year’s goals, it’s because of you. Yes, you are the only one holding yourself back from 2020!! Stop it now and have faith in yourself. God placed the desires of your heart to change, improve, or accomplish a new goal. Why would you doubt? Doubting yourself is like questioning God’s ability to come through for you. Now, not everyone will have a support system or a mentor to give them a push. The ultimate desire to accomplish your new years and beyond goals is up to you alone. Not every day will be peachy with the sun shining through every window. Sometimes there will be storms, setbacks, detours, emergencies; just plain life. The fact that you decided that this year will be different is the first step to change. But remember making that change take time and patience, realistic and doable planning, and to stay motivated, no matter what life obstacles brings you. Finally, have faith in your abilities, don’t be afraid to come out of your comfort zone, and to pray for continued guidance.

That’s Cathy’s Perspective!