The rush is over ........ SO

If you are going to really make New Years Resolutions or make 2009 Attitude Changes or 2009 Goals, now is the time to do it.

The rush of "You've GOT to make a resolution" or the guilt trip that many put on you to MAKE a Resolution that you will probably break anyway, has passed. So now you can decide what it is that you want to accomplish in 2009.

The other day my local paper listed 10 "steps" to get you closer to your 2009 Resolutions. Some of them I thought were pretty good. So here you go:

1) Take Ninety Days.
Pick something you want to accomplish or change in your life within the next 90 day. 90 Days is a much more manageable amount of time than a year and allows you to reach that "goal" and see the results.

2) What to Subtract.
Pick something that you want to be "gone" or "not doing" and are willing to commit to not being in your life in the next 90 days.

3) What to Add.
Pick something that is currently NOT in your life and that you are willing to commit to being in your life in the next 90 days.

4) Choose One.
Look at steps 2 and 3. Pick ONE to accomplish in the next 90 days. And then set to doing it. This way you can focus on ONE thing at a time and accomplish more in 1 year then you could otherwise.

5) Write it Down.
I love this one. It does not matter how strong your memory is, its still not as strong as the weakest link. There is a power in writing things down. It reminds us of what we want to do.

6) Find a model.
Look for people or a person who has already accomplished what you want to do and follow their "trail". Successful people ALWAYS leave a trail for others to follow - you just have to look for it.

7) Create a map.
You wouldn't venture across country in a car without a map, why would you try to accomplish anything without the doing the same. Write down the steps you will follow (or others have followed) to accomplish your task - so you can make sure you don't miss anything along the way.

8) Be consistent.
Its rarely one big effort that accomplishes a goal - but small CONSISTENT steps taken each and every day can help achieve that goal.

9) Schedule a future action.
Some people look at this as a "reward", others just look at it as the "next step". If you want to lose weight - break it down into manageable "mini" goals and figure out a "reward" for each goal that doesn't involve food. A manicure, a pedicure, a new sweater, you get the idea.

10) Maintain and celebrate.
It is so easy to reach that goal and then stop. How many times have you reached a goal that was for a special event, turn around and have to start all over again? We need to keep track of what worked and keep doing it. But remember to give yourself a pat on the back (ie a little celebration that doesn't set you back) and continue doing what works. Then set the next 90 day goal.

You CAN do it. Baby Steps - one at a time, and 90 days from now you will be that much further along on this journey we call LIFE.