“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” Abraham Lincoln
As we close the book on 2024, we can reflect on the past year’s successes and challenges objectively and plan for the coming year. Often, we consider these new plans “resolutions” for the new year.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary,5th Edition
resolution /rĕz″ə-loo͞′shən/ noun – 1.The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination. Ex: "faced the situation with resolution." 2. A firm decision to do something. Ex: "made a resolution to get more exercise." 3. A course of action determined or decided on. Ex: "His resolution is to get up early."
Unfortunately, “resolutions” have a bit of a stigma associated with the term. We all laugh silently when discussing resolutions because we know we will likely abandon even the best of our intentions when the going gets tough.
A recent survey indicated that 38% of Americans make New Year's resolutions. 18% plan to make 2 or more resolutions, 20% will make 1, and 68% will not make resolutions.
Of those who make resolutions, 87% have “high” or “very high” confidence that they will achieve their goals. The truth is: that only 6% of those who make resolutions can keep them, according to a recent Forbes survey.
A Forbes Health/One Poll survey found that the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months. Only 8% of respondents tend to stick with their goals for one month, while 22% last two months, 22% last three months and 13% last four months. By May only 32% of those who made resolutions were still succeeding.
Most resolution makers are out by the second Friday of the new year. Quitter’s Day is set aside to recognize those who set new year goals and fail to achieve them — and to encourage and equip them to try again and ultimately succeed. Research has shown that people quit their resolutions for the year by the second Friday of January. In 2025, Quitters Day is January 10.
So how do we break the cycle? It is just like any other challenge. We must set appropriate goals, create an achievable plan, and do it. Sounds easy, right? It is when you have the proper motivation.
Resolutions usually have one or both of the following purposes. We are resolving to do better than we did last year, and/or we are resolving to be better than we were last year.
What is the plan this year? Are you resolving to go after the “same-old” 15 or 20 lb that you have targeted before? Are you still going after that new career? Are you finally going to put away savings for your next house, for your retirement? If you find yourself resetting your resolutions from previous years, you must ask yourself “Why?”
Whether yours is a weight loss goal, a fitness goal, a professional goal, or a family goal; if you have plowed this ground before, it is unlikely that you will improve your outcome by “doubling down” or trying harder.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
The best thing you can resolve to do for yourself this year is to build and begin living your Personal Growth Plan. Your Personal Growth Plan is a roadmap that helps you achieve your dreams and goals in life. Your personal growth affects every aspect of your life. If you are not actively feeding your character, mind, and life, you will float like a leaf on a stream until you are tumbled into the abyss. It will hurt. John Maxwell said, “No one ever aimlessly drifted to success.”
Your personal growth plan is all about YOU…It’s about you reaching your potential. A personal growth plan brings meaning and measure to your life. The human is the only creature in the world that doesn’t grow to its potential naturally. It requires intentionality.
A Personal Growth Plan is a strategy to become your best self; a completely customized
blueprint for your life. It starts with your purpose: What will bring you the most happiness in life?
From there, work backward. Determine the habits you must develop, and the skills and knowledge you must master. Establish the step-by-step goals you need to achieve to get there.
Personal growth isn’t just for those who are feeling stuck or have a major obstacle to overcome. Everyone benefits from working through a personal growth plan. Learning how to continue your personal growth is essential to building confidence, reaching your goals, and finding fulfillment. If you’re not growing, you’re dying.
Maslow identified having the need to “become the best version of ourselves” is the path to self-fulfillment and reaching our full potential.
Personal growth is a never-ending, ongoing process, mostly shaped at an early age by our parents, teachers, and coaches. As we grow into adulthood, we expand our self-awareness and can actively start to take the right steps to improve ourselves. Not everyone learns these steps at an early age anymore.
Commit yourself to building your growth plan in 2025. It is a journey, not an event, and the timing couldn’t be better. Over the next few weeks, this blog will break down the steps required to begin your personal growth journey.
STEP 1: Reflection -Schedule time for reflection. A time when you can consider your goals, dreams, and desires. What do you wish for yourself, your family, and your career? This may take several tries to fully complete the reflection process. Often, in reflection, we allow our mind to play on the “what ifs?”. Prepare to spend the time it takes to flesh out these ideas.
Grab a pen and paper, spend time reflecting on what you want your 2025 to be. Build your list, and next week we will begin forming a plan that will grow your potential and your success in the new year.
May we all have a safe, prosperous, and happy 2025.
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