Eating the elephant, one bite at a time

I’m not making resolutions again this year, because I never do. I make general goals, and try to work towards those goals regularly. On New Year’s Day, I had a small epiphany, and realized my “resolution” is to stop and think: “What is the best thing for me right now?”

It might be choosing a healthier eating option—or it might be to indulge a little. It might be to hammer out another thousand words—or it might be to veg in front of the TV with my beloved. It might be to go to the gym—or it might be to take the day off. The main thing I’m going for is to make sure I’ve considered the question, that I’m not just taking the easy option.

Tony Robbins says something that’s a corrolary to this in his Personal Power stuff: That with anything you set out to do, even if it’s going to hang out with a friend, you ask yourself “What is my goal?” It could be just to hang out and have a good time. But the idea is to focus on what you want to achieve, because if you do, you’re more likely to achieve it.

The only other thing I’ve been thinking about in terms of goals/resolutions/whatever you want to call them, is a series that one of my mentors, Dean Wesley Smith, has been writing about in his blog. Although the articles are focused on writing goals, his insights can be applied to any goal. He’s also training to run a marathon, so he equates some of it to that, too. Even if you’re not a writer, I think they’re worth checking out. (You pretty much have to read them in order; the lead-in one is dated December 2.)

I've been re-reading them, taking notes as I go of the things that ring true for me. That way I'll have a Cliff Notes version to refer back to throughout the year.

What about you all? Are you resolved?