Take Action: Creating Lasting Change

Forget any New Year's Resolutions that you're not really excited about. Without your commitment and enthusiasm they'll never really stick! So just don't make a resolve that you think you'd like but are not sincere about putting any effort into. Chances are you won't and you'll only be disappointed and discouraged and you don't need to fall into that downward slump.

Instead, decide when you're absolutely ready to make changes subtle or dramatic or to reach a goal. Once you decide, build an action plan that you can live with. What do I mean by a- plan you can live with?”

A plan that has appeal to you so you don't make up all sorts of nonsensical   excuses to ditch or ignore it. A plan that is not too far-reaching so it's overwhelming and unattainable or lacks challenge and the ability to stretch you and hold your interest.

Follow these ten steps to create your goal now:

1. Choose a start-up date and stick to it.
2. Write out your goal in one or two sentences.
3. Know and write down why it's important for you to reach.
4. Write down the action steps in sequence necessary to  attain your goal.
5. Take the first five steps and write them on a separate piece of paper.
6. Put the other action steps away for safekeeping and refer only to the first  first five steps.
7. When they're completed, go on to the next set of five until you've reached your goal.
8. Celebrate the completion of each set.
9. If you veer off-track, just hop back on again right where you left off!
10. Review and evaluate your plan and when necessary make adjustments that can work for you.

) White, 2007.