@Patricia – I am constantly revising my goals. For me it’s the only way to get ahead.

@Steve C – Thanks! I have a difficult time with balance too. I tend to fall into one of the extremes.

@Sagan – I tend to do a little of both: setting goals throughout the year and setting new goals at the beginning of the year.

@Wilson – 80% is pretty good!

@Missy – Instant gratification is definitely a killer. The national debt is a good indication.

@Emma James – I agree that is too lip service and not enough actual work when it comes to setting NYR.

@Daphne – Trying not to do too much is essential as well – I agree. I like to have one big goal and a few smaller ones to keep from getting overwhelmed.

What a timely post! I used to not bother about resolutions because they didn’t work for me. In the past few years though, I’ve been able to achieve what I wanted to by focusing on three simple things a year, much like what Bellsouth wrote in her comment.

Also, many people focus on what they feel they ought to do (like lose weight) and there’s no inherent motivation to keep going. I find that when I focus on what’s really really important to me, it’s easy to obsess about it all year. And what you think about all the time, you make into reality.

Daphne’s last blog post..A Season To Celebrate

Natural’s last blog post..You’re So Vain You Probably Think This Post Is About You

I agree with both you and Missy, above. If you approach NYRs like the newest fad diet (frequently one and the same), you’re still in Santa mode (ie. you are wanting magic results). But if you see the beginning of the year as simply a time to pause and reflect, because you have a few days off and therefore enough moments in the day to breathe, and discover there are real things you are wanting to (and, more importantly, WILLING to) change, then change is much more likely. At least that’s what’s worked for me. I’ve also found this approach can be applied at any time of year, and that if my only expectation is CHANGE, as opposed to HOW MUCH CHANGE, I’m less likely to get discouraged.

This year’s resolution is to try to stay where my feet are, and let that space be friggin fantastic. But now you’ve given me some additional ideas…

emma james’s last blog post..2008: Most Pleasurables

I do think that it is our expectations that get in the way. We are a “need it or want it now” society. Patience is no longer a virtue. I’m not sure if anyone knows what a virtue is anymore.
My thought is people are more willing to accept something as it is if it is harder to change. In my work (I’m a massage therapist) most of my clients get discouraged after a few weeks of treatment and give up, accepting their moderate discomfort. It is not something that needs to be dealt with. A little work, stretches and changing things around the home and most people can get better. But many of them choose not to do the work.

Missy’s last blog post..Olive oil is not just for cooking

Good luck for your resolution, Carla

wilson’s last blog post..Don’t Soak The Kelp in Hot Water!

I tend to agree. What’s the point if you can’t follow through? For me, if I have the drive to do something, it usually gets done. It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is. The hard part for me is finding the right balance of over doing it versus doing too little. Good luck on your move!

Steve C @ MyWifeQuitHerJob.com’s last blog post..How These Businesses Made Me A Customer For Life

I set my plans for 2009 last year and I revise them all the time…so my resolutions fit into my goals and mapping of the outcomes and steps to process.

I would rather revise then have a stack of failure because I could not organize or follow through.

Thank you for sharing

Patricia’s last blog post..Waiting

- have less clutter in the home.

- be on top of my game financially.

- make more good friends.

Bellesouth’s last blog post..Sixteen, beautiful, and yours