Every year, every woman has the same urge to set unrealistic New Year’s resolutions. It seems as though a flash of light appears and the old way of doing things is no longer acceptable. Nevertheless, after ten days into the new year, the resolution is put on the back-burner by life. The same life that had you off track in the first place. My solution to that way of thinking; make a list of all the things that are holding you back and preventing your growth. Realistically, view yourself for the person you are. If you are a procrastinator, admit it. If you are an over-eater, admit it. If you keep allowing negative men in your life, admit it. If you know you won’t go to church no more next year than this year, admit it. If you know you won’t give the money back after you borrow it, say that. If you’re okay with being in debt, own it.
After making your negative list, make a list of obtainable goals. If you’ve failed to finish your degree after seven years and you have yet to complete your Fafsa or submit your Spring enrollment application; nine times out of ten, you won’t be finishing that degree this year. I am not seeking to discourage you, I’m simply doing what we all fail to do. Pull out the mirror and take a look. It won’t always be as pretty as you imagined, but beauty does lie beneath. Not the physical beauty, but the beauty to accept the person you are, deal with the consequences, and set a plan for a better you.
My individual plan can’t be reached in a year and then reset for 2010. My plan takes time, growth, and self-discovery. I have truthfully acknowledged my flaws, and I have made a plan. Not a plan to save the world, lose ten pounds, pay this or pay that. I have made a plan to invest in me. I am not making a New Year’s resolution. I am making a complete 360, and it’ll still be in motion as you fly through 2009, 2010, and say hello to 2011. The sooner we all throw out the misconception that we can fix our entire life in one year, the better off we’ll be.
