How to Make New Year's Resolutions
You Will Keep: An Essential Guide

Each year an estimated 100 million Americans make New Year's resolutions -- but only one out of five sticks with it. Why is it that so many Americans fail at maintaining their good intentions?

“The biggest reason that we don’t keep our New Year's resolutions is that we let our emotions, thoughts and beliefs stand in our way,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and Director of Training of Sedona Training Associates. “In fact, we often approach New Year's resolutions with a grain of salt, assuming that since it didn't work out in the past, it probably won't work out this time either.”

The other all-too-common reasons why so many resolutions fall by the wayside has to do with the goals themselves; often, they’re simply too big and much too general.

Case in point, popular New Year’s resolutions this year, according to USA.gov, include:

1. Lose Weight
2. Manage Debt
3. Save Money
4. Get a Better Job
5. Get Fit
6. Eat Right
7. Get a Better Education
8. Drink Less Alcohol
9. Quit Smoking Now
10. Reduce Stress Overall
11. Reduce Stress at Work
12. Take a Trip
13. Volunteer to Help Others

While these are all great in theory, they fall short in that they do not set a clear goal of any kind. Consider “lose weight,” “manage debt,” or “eat right.” These goals will easily become overwhelming as you grapple with where to get started. A better solution is to keep your goals simple, specific and action-oriented, such as:

• Reduce my caloric intake by 100 calories a day.
• Jog for 35 minutes on Monday and Wednesday mornings.
• Pay an extra $150 each month toward my highest credit card bill.
• Replace my lunchtime burger with a salad three times a week.

These goals are bite-sized, tangible steps that you can easily accomplish, and when you restructure your goals in this way you’ll find them much easier to stick with.

Other important tips to keep in mind when making your New Year’s resolutions this year include:

Make it manageable. Avoid the urge to bite off more than you can chew by making several grandiose goals such as getting out of debt, reducing stress and spending more time with your spouse. Instead, focus on one goal at a time.

Examine your reasoning. Are you resolving to get a new job because you really want a new one, or because someone else put the idea in your head? In order for your goal to become a reality, make sure the idea came from your own heart.

Keep it positive. Goals should always be written in a positive, rather than negative, format. For instance, “Grow my fingernails longer” instead of “Don’t bite my nails.” This sets the tone for a more optimistic future.

Put it into action. After you’ve identified your goal, write it down and start moving forward. Remember that even a baby step is better than no step at all.

Monitor your progress. This is one of the best ways to stay motivated as the months go by. So use a calendar, journal or even a weekly chat with a friend to stay updated on how far you’ve come.

Getting Over the Emotional Hurdles  -  As Dwoskin pointed out, your emotions can easily get in the way of even the best designed New Year’s resolutions. Yet, it doesn’t have to be this way. “If you are willing to set clear goals and intentions and are also willing to let go of the thoughts, feelings and beliefs that are standing in your way, anything is possible,” Dwoskin says.

Effortless Creation, the Ultimate Course on Manifesting Your Goals uses The Sedona Method to teach you how to release the feelings that are holding you back in life. Whether you're afraid of failing your resolution, doubtful that you posses the ability to achieve it, or simply overwhelmed by where to start, Effortless Creation shows you how to let these negative thoughts go.

Only when you’re finally free of these self-sabotaging emotions will you realize that you had it in you all along.

Sources
USA.gov: Popular New Year's Resolutions
CNN.com December 9, 2008