I am compelled to offer two recommendations for those who choose to set New Year’s Resolutions, and who sincerely want to leverage them for increased success, happiness, and impact.
1. Set one resolution. Not ten. Not five. Not two. FOCUS. Select one important change you are committed to and that would make a measurable difference in your life (and/or others’ lives). You will dramatically increase your chances of success by focusing on one priority. One goal.
2. Add the words “for the rest of my life” to your resolution. For example, if you have resolved to run five days per week in 2007, make your resolution, “To run five days per week for the rest of my life.” If your resolution is to learn to play guitar in 2007, make it, “To make playing the guitar an exciting part of my life, for the rest of my life.” This “forever” distinction takes your resolutions to a new inspiring level, and forces your brain to start thinking of ways to make your desired change a life-long habit. After all, this is what you really want, isn’t it? So go out on a limb and proclaim that you’re committed to integrating this one change into your life for the rest of your life.
Following this advice, I know you and I will both separate ourselves from the pack of New Year’s Resolvers.
Crawdaddy Cove 
Hi CC,
“Set One Resolution” – that’s just magic. Focus, energy, having it in front of you all the time.
thanks for this, it just made my day. :-)
gaz
Hey Crawdaddy,
Great Post!
I’d like to add one:
Get Uncomfortable!
As an Exercise Scientist and Trainer I have spent much of the last twenty-five years helping people change their body. Smaller, bigger, lighter, leaner, more muscle, more flexibility, speed, power… Athletes, non-athletes, kids, mums, dads…..whatever they were after; that’s what I did my best to deliver.
Early in my career I discovered that whether or not someone achieved their desired goals had very little to do with what was possible, or their genetic potential, and everything to do with their ability to deal with discomfort.
If you want an amazing life and you’re all about succeeding with your New Year resolutions, then learn to deal with, if not embrace, discomfort.
Sorry Dude.
Just how it is.
Keep up the great writing Crawdaddy!
Craig Harper (Melbourne, Australia)
craig@craigharper.com.au
http://www.craigharper.com.au
Great point, Craig. I plan to write a post about just that in the near future. Thanks for your wise contribution.
Very good stuff. I wrote a post on new year resolutions tips and, amongst others, I suggested we keep to just a couple of resolutions so as not to dilute focus.
But I didn’t think of the fact that, sometimes, one enormous resolution could be the difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary – and if it is then it should receive attention alone.
I think I might need to update that post!
Craig’s point is also very relevent. I’ve told my daughter that one of the things that will greatly influence the quality of the outcomes she enjoys is whether or not she’s prepared to suffer the boredom that’s sometimes necessary to achieve worthwhile aims.
She kind of shrugs…
Great rreading your post