This post is “part 2” of a discussion on effective new year’s resolutions (“part 1” was published last week and was entitled “Are Your New Year’s Resolutions Doomed?”)
So, last week we discussed the main “resolution trap” and its consequences – what’s a better way?
FROM THEMES TO ACTION
In short, start with the “big picture” and work your way back to action. Abandon the long list of resolutions and decide on 3-5 “life-changing themes” that you really want to see happen. As we noted previously, they are typically broad areas of improvement that affect multiple areas of your life (this often takes “bedrock” soul-searching & vision – be deliberate, take your time). Once the themes are identified, let them guide you to the most important activities needed to move them forward during the year. Even though you are still getting things done “one task at a time,” your loyalty is now to the 3-5 “life-changing themes” that give you direction, motivation and flexibility to make progress wherever they apply. In other words, you stay true to making a big difference in your life versus just completing a random list of tasks.
February is almost over and you really wanted to “up your game” in 2013, right? Or maybe you didn’t even make an attempt, since you’ve become cynical about the whole “new-year-like-a-fresh-sheet-of-paper-analogy.” Depending on your past experience, it’s either exciting to “fill the paper,” or depressing to even pick up the pen, because you’ve tried and failed so many times (typically by March – right?). What’s the problem? 
