by Guita T. Gopalan

Whether you want to be thinner, be richer, learn more, go to new places…whatever resolution you have for 2013 isn’t going to happen unless you’re serious… and I mean really serious about it. A list you make 3 minutes to New Years isn’t going to stick.

A resolution (whether it was made in New Years or any other time of the year) has to matter as in really matter to you. It should motivate you to action…

If your resolution from New Year’s 2012 was unresolved by the end of 2012 then IT DOESN’T MATTER TO YOU – NOT REALLY. Don’t kid yourself! You had 365 days of 2012 to get it done and you didn’t! If it were important enough you’d be celebrating success already, not adding it to your 2013 things to do.

So what do you do about your resolutions this 2013? Trim it down…limit yourself to 1 resolution and work on it with tenacious focus until you accomplish it, and follow these five tips below:

1.    Be specific. Be as descriptive as possible with what you want! Identify indicators for success, use numbers.

2.   Write it down – use an illustration board (don’t print it out… use your actual pen/marker holding hand). Make it as colorful or drab as you want. The important thing is to display that illustration board strategically so you can be reminded of what you want to achieve.

3.   Identify steps 1-3. Just 1-3…don’t stress yourself out (or psych yourself out) by making this resolution this big big big unsurmountable thing which requires 24 hours of your day! Start with the 3 things you need to do in the next week and a half… when 1-2 are accomplished add two more to your list.

4.   Stop complaining and ranting – If it was something easy it wouldn’t be a resolution. These are things we resign ourselves to do (force ourselves)… most of the time it’s things we want, really want but are afraid to have or pursue. Complaining will just give you a temporary and useless feeling of relief.

5.   Get over yourself – So you failed in the past, you didn’t get it right this time, you need other people’s help. There’s no room for ego in making your dreams come true. Forgive yourself, accept help from others and work with others to make things happen.

Now when you’re done with one resolution, you can now move on to a new resolution… Do this and for sure… at the end of 2013 you’ll be able to celebrate a brand new you.

Guita T. Gopalan is the Managing Director of Colayco Foundation and is a member of the OneCORE Success Center.