In Chicago Tribune, Jen Weigel wrote: “It's resolution time, and once again we prepare ourselves to be disappointed with our inability to shed those pounds or quit those bad habits. Is it possible that the right approach to the resolution process could really produce results?” She then offers a set of principles by Steve Siebold, author of the book “177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class,” to help us stick with our resolutions. They write: “Get a resolution. … Make a motivation board. … Know it won't be easy. … Cut out the negative talk. … Forget what other people think. … Be honest.”
In USA Today, Adam Shell offers a financial resolution: “Time to roll out some 2012 resolutions that will make the balances in your 401(k), 529 plan and savings account go up -- and make your mortgage payments, credit card debts and investment angst go down. Here are a few must-do resolutions to put your personal finances back on track in 2012.”Shell suggests people keep saving, investing and contributing to their 401(k). He is confident that now is the time to lower your monthly mortgage payments by refinancing your current mortgage at a lower rate and starting to save the college costs for your children as soon as they are born. He suggests not investing based on news headlines and claims that impulsive decisions from breaking news are wrong most of the time. His last recommendation should be at the top of not only your financial resolutions but all resolutions: "Do not run a balance on your credit cards."
2011 wasn’t so great for many of us. An Associated Press-GfK poll declared that overall, 68 percent of Americans described 2011 as a bad year. “[However,] Americans are hopeful for what 2012 will bring for their families and the country. … Sixty-two percent are optimistic about what 2012 will bring for the nation and more, 78 percent, are hopeful about the year their family will have in2012.”
Personally, 2011 wasn’t too bad for me. I accomplished most of my 2011 goals. Yet, I couldn’t complete a few of my top ones. Wall Street Journal columnist Elizabeth Bernstein suggests making a New Year’s resolution with someone you love and trust. She points out: “Most of us could use help achieving our goals. Who better to tell us how to improve ourselves than someone who knows us well -- perhaps better than we know ourselves -- and even may be all too happy to offer up some tough love? And if we promise to check in regularly with this person to discuss our progress, we'll probably do a much better job of keeping our resolutions.” Thus, I decided to make my New Year’s resolutions for 2012 with you.
1. Take care of health.
2. Get more organized to be on the right track to reach goals.
3. Clean up desk, house and address book according to priorities in life.
4. Don’t complain. Instead, take action to change the things!
5. Eat less and exercise more.
6. Do more volunteer work to help community.
7. Finish up incomplete projects before starting new ones.
8. Don’t say “I wish,” say “I will.”
9. Stick to New Year’s resolutions.
10. Never forget that today might be the last day of your life while it’s the first day of the rest of your life!
Have you written a New Year’s resolution for yourself? If you haven’t written it yet, it’s about time to write it now. “A man without a goal is like a ship without a rudder,” said Scottish writer Thomas Carlyle. Remember, a dream is not a goal until it is written. I hope you can write one and stick with it to have a happy new year filled with peace, prosperity and joy. Happy 2012!
