In the last article on this topic, we discussed the reality of New Year’s Resolutions and how most of these never come to fruition. In fact, by January 15th, most of us have abandoned these life-changing intentions.

However, failure isn’t necessary. You can get to your goals, but it does require more than just a casual comment or intention.

In part one on this topic, I covered these critical pointers for effective ‘goal getting’

1. Make sure you pick one habit to change and one habit only.
2. Make your goal or resolution public, so others can hold you accountable.
3. Remove and eliminate from your life, all obstacles to success.
4. Predetermine the choices that guarantee your success. Don’t wait till the moment.

Now today, we will complete our discussion on this topic.

5. More Important Than HOW is WHY! Examine…Why do this?

Before you begin, put on some music that inspires you. This is important for this step.

Once you have done all the above, then it’s time to enhance the emotional drive tugging at your resolution. You do this by invoking a bigger WHY…. a bigger purpose. That purpose or why will pull you into it…if you make it alive with the power of your heart…your source of your emotions.

It’s not too complex: just ask yourself…why is this resolution important to me? How will it affect me? How will it affect my future? How could it bring or invite more love and opportunity into my life? How will it affect those I love? Why would it be important to my family, my friends, or even my community? How will it change my destiny? How will this open opportunity for me and those I care about? How will I grow and evolve from this? (You get the idea.)

Just keep asking these questions, and allow your mind plenty of time to wander through the emotions that come with each answer. Then, start writing these down. As you do so, revisit each of the three decisions you made in step three, and allow the emotional WHY to solidify those decisions even more.

6. Embrace Effort While Visualizing the Results of Effort.

This is not about strain. This is not about grunting and moaning. This is not about whining about how hard it is.

Your resolution will be alive in your life if you consistently put effort into it. This is the way of life. Life responds to effort, and we must accept this truth to make progress on our goals.

Yes, the resolution, the decisions, and the emotions are all important, but in the end…it will be your daily effort that determines the result. Use this last pointer, to set up a simple routine to be ready for this effort. Here’s how: Never go to bed at night without a daily written plan for the next day, that includes the predetermined decisions and the effort needed for success. When you do this, visualize the outcomes that come from your efforts, but also spend a few moments daily mentally picturing the efforts WHILE you affirm to yourself: I can do this. Yes… I can do this.

We can’t just focus on the outcome or the results we want, and expect life to give us these rewards that come from the serious effort. We must get our brains to accept that effort is required, and come to value, and even perhaps enjoy these efforts as much as the ultimate outcomes we seek.