Rise and Shine – Personal Development is a Lifestyle

Once again the holiday season is upon us and the New Year is riding on it’s coat tails. I remember the days when everyone used to share there ‘New Years Resolutions’ with each other upon returning to school or to work after the short holiday vacation.

But the idea of making a commitment to change something in our personal lives seems to have lost it’s zing in the past decades.

I don’t here people sharing there resolutions like I used to. Many of my friends, family and acquaintances have actually resolved to no longer make ‘New Years Resolutions’. In some circles, talk of ‘New Years Resolutions’ will earn you a look of disdain or even pity. The sentiment is that only children and the naïve still subscribe to such foolishness.

Astute and sophisticated folk know better than to hang there self growth goals on that fading star. The rest of us need to ‘get with the program’.

Well, I’m not buying it. The slow death of the ‘New Years Resolution’ ritual in American culture has nothing to do with advanced thinking or the giving up of childish things. It’s demise sits squarely in the lap of personal failure.

We stop making ‘New Years Resolutions’ because we have become discouraged by our annual inability to carry through on our promises to our selves.

Rather than wallow in the pain of knowing that we are not the masters of our fate and captain of our ship we resolve to avoid the disappointment by joining the ranks of non-resoluters.

I understand and sympathize with those of you who have chosen this as your ………….

……“Failed Resolution Solution.”

But I am here to inform you that there is a better way. You can make resolutions and see them through to a successful conclusion with proper knowledge, guidance and support.

The new year is actually one of the best times to start a new goal.

Because the ‘New Years Resolution” is a social ritual, getting the support you need to carry through to the end is easy to find. There are still plenty of people out there who want to make this year better than there last. Maybe even, there “best year ever” So you are not alone.

Here are some tips to guarantee your 2011 resolutions bring you the ‘change you can believe in.”

1. Do not by any means engage the ‘non-resoluters’ in debates, discussions or pissing sessions concerning the efficacy of ‘New Years Resolutions.’ Misery loves company. There sole purpose is the rain on your parade. When you feel the urge to respond to there nay saying: Stop, do not pass go!
2. Find an accountability partner. Someone who also has a goal they are beginning in the new year. Meet with this person at least once per week to monitor each others progress, encourage each other, share strategies that are helping you keep your eye on the prize and put some fire under each other when needed. Don’t make this another meeting you will come to hate. 20 minutes is sufficient time for an accountability meeting. Stick to the script.
3. Go public with your goal to your close friends and relatives (excluding #1). Keep them updated with a bi-weekly or monthly email blast on your progress. We are wired as human beings to place less importance on disappointing ourselves, than on disappointing others. This need to make good on our word makes both the accountability partnership and community support very effective.
4. Break your big goal into smaller, mini goals or baby goals. If your want to lose 20lbs. by the summer, don’t focus on the 20 lbs. Focus on 1-2 lbs at a time. Set your self a goal of 1 lb per week and by June 30, you will have achieved your goal. The mini goal keeps you focused. The mini goal reduces performance anxiety. The mini goal allows you to harness momentum. Each mini goal achieved builds your faith and self esteem, which in turn fuels your goal achievement tank.
5. Benefit from the trance inducing affect of immersion. Surround yourself with images, information, and art that brings your mind back to the goal. Place pictures of yourself at your desired weight where you are going to see them. If you don’t have any, use images of someone else. Subscribe to journals and email list than provide education on the subject your goal is related to. Feed your soul on media that is inspiring. Whether it be music, film, novels or websites, make sure they are uplifting and concludes with the confirmation of lifes possibilities. Together, there message will induce a subtle form of self-hypnosis that will put wind beneath your resolution wings.
6. Create an home environment that supports and foster the success of you goal. Do you have the right food in your refrigerator to accelerate you weight loss goals? Have you removed all of the foods, snacks and beverages that will sabotage your success? Don’t wait for January 1 to find your gym bag, mat and other exercise accessories. I find that rearranging the furniture is a great way of keeping a new goal idea fresh in my mind. You don’t need to bring in an interior decorator. Move some things around, change some lighting, add some new scents. You will be surprised how effective these small changes are in awakening you from your day to day pattern.
7. Allocate time to achieving your goal. Don’t assume that the task needed to make your goal a success will get done by chance. Block out time everyday to work on your goal. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Take it slow. Remember, baby goals. Set a timer during your blocked time and let everyone know, your are not to be disturbed under any circumstances. Keep a journal of what you accomplish daily during your block time. This is something you can share with your accountability partner and community of supporters. It’s also a source of immediate feedback if/when you start slipping.

Everything in the universe functions according to a system. A pattern of behaviors, stimulus-responses and actions setting off chain reactions. There is a method to the universes sometimes apparent madness.

If you are to be successful in making your ‘New Years Resolution’ a reality, you too must have a prescribed system of actions, checks & balances, guidance and supporters that lead you to your goal. Let’s make 2011 your best resolution year ever.

If you could use some assistance with achieving your goals this year, contact me to set up an face to face or phone consultation.

973-968-6055
kazi@riseandshinepld.com



Thousand’s of books, articles, and media productions are published each year, targeting the human need to be productive. Self improvement enthusiast adopt new productivity strategies, like overweight people adopt diets. Each new offering is the flavor of the month.

We all know when we are not being productive. We can sense within ourselves a hint of falling short. There is a certain disappointment with our efforts and accomplishments, that leaves us feeling unfulfilled.

This sense of coming up short is a warning signal flashing on our divinity meter. It let’s us know, that we are not being the creators we were meant to be. We are not using the talents, intelligence, life force and consciousness that is our divine inheritance to create a haven for ourselves, our loved ones and the world.

Nature is a prime example of productivity in action. Every moment life is being created, growing, maturing, declining and passing away. Only to be replaced by new life, that will follow the same cycle.

What do we learn from the natures productive cycle?

• within every seed lies the template of the fruit – start your day with a goal in mind.
• The birth of the seed marks the death of the fruit – complete the previous task and have closure before initiating something new.
• before a tree rises up, the seed sinks into the earth to root itself – prepare for the productive journey by gathering the material, emotional and mental resources required. Root yourself in the certainty of a successful outcome before you make your plans public.
• Like the stem that becomes the trunk, your initial efforts toward your goal must be bold, passionate and focused. This initial surge will create the momentum that will help to keep you moving upward and forward when the unforeseen challenges arise (and they will arise).

Daily accomplishments are not just about checking to-dos off of a list. Every time you make a plan and carry it through, you strengthen your soul force and communicate value and respect for your very life breath. These are the prayers that reach heaven and shape earth.  In contrast, breaking you word to self, eats away at your soul confidence and increases your personal burden of guilt, apathy, doubt and fear.

Each task completed reduces the power of the adversary that is our own doubtful, rebellious thought habits.  When you keep your personal promise, your word becomes the bond that re-connects you to your divine promise/purpose/birth right.

Let’s be fruitful and multiply!

As personal growth and health enthusiast, entrepreneurs and executives, we constantly seek ways to accomplish more during our busy days. Only to get the same average results. This is a very common occurrence for people seeking to boost their productivity. We are doing so much, but still remain dissatisfied with our progress.

Part of the problem is our tendency to add activities, goals, relationships and responsibilities to our lives, absent of any coherent vision. Listen closely to what I am about to say. Without a common vision, a core value system to guide your life, you can easily get involved in activities that actually work against your efforts to move forward.

Set aside some time to contemplate your core values. What are the non-negotiable principles upon which your ideal life is to be built. Once you have clarified your core priorities, the commitments you choose to add or subtract from you life will positively impact the momentum you need to draw nearer to your ideal life.

Allow your values to be a sharp blade you use to trim the excess that hinders your effectiveness, productivity and momentum.