Drawing Resolute Resolutions

We are down to the last day of the year. It is the time when most normal people make New Year’s resolutions. It is also a time when people remember the resolutions they made in years past that either did not live to see the light of day, or never made it through January. I realise that despite the high failure rate of resolutions, nobody ever sets out purposely to fail. I have therefore come up with the Layman’s guide to making the resolution that is guaranteed to work.

Write it Down

For those among you who detest writing, this may sound like an unpleasant and non-beneficial chore. However, this is the first step to ensuring that your resolution is successful. By writing, I don’t mean the fluffy and superfluous way that the Layman writes. It should be just a brief outline of the achievements you want to accomplish in the New Year. A good resolution can be written down effectively in less than 50 words. It should contain mainly the expected result and not necessarily a word by word process of how to achieve it. So, don’t be vague, put it on the page!

Say it out Loudly

Saying what you intend to do does not need to be a freak show with a shocked audience. It just requires you to form the words in your mouth of what you expect to achieve. There is power in the tongue and you can just say the words in the comfort and privacy of your own room. The only person who needs to hear those words is you so go ahead and perform the soliloquy.

For Posterity

Successful resolutions are usually intended for permanent lifestyle change. Inasmuch as we make resolutions to conform to the year at hand, we should be ready to make a life-long commitment. There is no point in making a resolution that is not resolute only to break it later and go back to your old ways. It weakens your self-esteem and compromises your credibility.

Daily Activity

However complex a resolution is, it has to be broken to a daily activity for it to be practical. There is no point in saying you are going to lose weight unless you identify the daily changes in diet and activity needed to achieve your goal. Just as a big chunk of ugali is eaten by breaking it into small bites, so is the most difficult resolution conquered by breaking it down into manageable daily pieces.

Not Restricted to Calendar Year

Who said that a resolution has to run from January to December? You should not feel under pressure to make a New Year’s resolution on the 1^st of January or forever be condemned. There is nothing magical about January to dictate that all resolutions should be made then. You can never be time-barred in making a resolution. It can start in any month and on any date. Don’t fret if you have not declared yours by tomorrow. Take your time and start whenever you are ready to see it through to the end.

It’s Okay to Slip-Up

Most people break their resolutions on the first instant that they slip up. This is wrong. You need to know that there are bound to be many failures on the path to succeeding in your resolution. The trick is to learn from the mistake and soldier on however discouraged you may feel. You can even restate your resolution in order to garner enough passion to trudge on even in the face of discouragement from none other than yourself.

Not Important to Announce to All and Sundry

Most people feel the need to tell friends or family of their intended resolutions. While this may help in some instances where one needs and accountability partner, it is often the reason why many fail in their resolutions. Only a few people will understand your resolution and help you in its pursuit. The vast majority will not be in position to help and even if they are, will not be willing to do so. Only tell those whose help you need in achieving your objective.

Consider the Stake Holders

Whenever you resolve to do something, it is important to consider how it will affect those close to you. If, for example, you resolve to finish your degree within the New Year, you need to think about how less time with your family will affect your children. A good resolution therefore, must not compromise those things that are important in your life unless the expected result will be worth the sacrifice.

So there you have it, fellow Laymen. Go out and make good resolutions for the New Year.