2016 defined, and how to conquer your resolutions

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It’s 2016 – time to turn a new leaf, and start over again. Some people don’t really believe in the magic of a new year, but I definitely do. Sometimes it’s just the motivation I need to get a positive attitude moving forward.

Over the past two years, I’ve put together lists of words to describe how I want to build my character in the following year (2014 and 2015). This year, I’m choosing just one word:

It’s a word you’ve heard, but the definition resonated with me: completely and sincerely devoted, determined, or enthusiastic; marked by complete earnest commitment; free from all reserve or hesitation.

It was on my 2015 list, but I’m feeling the need to go deeper with it. Part of my personality is that I tend to be disorganized and give up easily. (I’m a “free spirit” as my husband so nicely puts it.) I avoid difficult situations out of fear, quit projects that are too hard, and take shortcuts to get to the end result as fast as possible. All of this leaves me sporadic and scrambling most of the time. I get frazzled because there’s no plan. I try to do things the easy way, or don’t finish what I start, and don’t get the results I want.

This year I want to embrace challenges. I don’t want to run away from something because I’m afraid of how hard it will be, or because I’m just too lazy. I want to follow through with the commitments I make, especially my personal goals and goals for my family (those commitments are the ones I seem to break a lot more easily). I want to be all-in and wholehearted.

Do you know how to conquer your resolutions? The secret is planning and writing down specific goals. (Ahhh, planning! Goals! Two things I avoid!) While you can make a generic goal or have a mantra you play over and over in your head, it doesn’t stick unless you’re specific.

My specific goals to be wholehearted (and to follow through with wholeheartedly!) are the following:

Read and journal through the Bible this year, taking time to do this every day.
Journal my prayers and recap my day at night.
Set a cleaning schedule for the house.
Exercise Monday through Friday.
Drink more water.
Spend more time with my husband and son, and less on social media or watching TV/movies.
Tackle challenges as soon as possible – immediately if I can. (Stop procrastinating!)
Be open and vulnerable consistently.
Connect with a friend at least once a week (spend time with, call or phone).
Plan and schedule my week/month. (Write it down!)
Learn new skills.
Read one new book each month.

The second secret to having victory with your resolutions? Accountability. (Something else I hate!) Now that it’s here and in the open, you can hold me accountable for whether or not I do it. That goes for you too, people who know me in real life.