Are you tired of making New Year’s Resolutions only to never see any real change or results? Would you like to be at a different place at the end of this year than you are at the end of last year?

If the answer is YES and you’re serious about making changes, take a few minutes to answer these 7 questions. The answers will help clarify things for you and help you see what you need to do to succeed.

1.  What are your top 3 personal or professional goals that you’d like to see accomplished this year?

Be specific. For example, don’t simply write “I’d like to have a better marriage. Instead, ask yourself what specific changes would you like to make to have a better marriage? Then set a goal to make that more likely to happen. For example, you will be more positive with your husband or you will initiate intimacy at least once a week. If you want to deepen your relationship with God, you might set a goal to spend 15 minutes a day in silent prayer or read three chapters of the Bible every day. Write down your 3 specific goals.

2.  Now that you’ve named your goals, what positive impact would these changes have on your current life situation?

If one year from now you successfully reached these three goals, how would your life be better (easier, happier, more organized, more spiritually deep) if you made the changes you need to make in your life, job, finances, marriage, other relationships, or health?

3.  Name your biggest obstacles or challenges that have kept you from making your goals a reality thus far?

List as many reasons as possible so you can begin to find solutions to overcoming the obstacles. For example, I don’t have the time. I have no support. I don’t know what to do. I don’t have the money. I’m afraid to take those steps.

4.  What impact have these obstacles and challenges had on you personally as well as professionally (emotionally, financially, health, confidence, relationships, spiritually, etc.)?

5.  How would you feel if at the end of this year if you could look back and see you have achieved all of your goals?

6.  What do you need in order to get the support you need to reach your goals and keep you accountable throughout the year?

7.  When do you want to start to take bold action to implement your new movement forward and get unstuck? If not now, what are you waiting for?

 

Image: Flickr