Here we are in the fourth month of past New Year’s planning. Many of us make personal and professional resolutions for the future, that ultimately function as internal promises. In fact, promises are the vehicles that can truly create the future. Sadly, many of these resolutions go unfulfilled. Subsequently, we beat ourselves up for these unfulfilled resolutions such as, quitting smoking, losing weight, staying with a new exercise regimen, continuing professional education, and/or spending more time with the family.
Promises are not only the commitments we make to ourselves for future achievement; but, how we coordinate actions with others. If this is so, then why do many of these promises never become reality? There are components of promises that make them realizable, such as:
• Clarity in the initial generation and expected steps for achievement
• True description of the final outcome
• A specified time period for fulfillment
• Competency in skills of those to be involved for complete fulfillment
• Trust and sincerity on the part of all involved
• Flexibility along the road to achievement
If you have made promises to yourself or others for the New Year, examine them for practicable achievement with these questions:
• How will this resolution (promise) bring meaningful change to my life?
• Are there external resources you will need to help achieve this objective?
• If others are involved, what competency or skills do they need to have to help you?
• Is the time frame you’ve established truly reasonable for your lifestyle?
• What are your fallback plans in the event your pursuit does proceed exactly as planned?
• If this resolution is a larger community movement, are you certain you have the staying power for efforts this significant?
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”
Anon