New Year’s Resolutions are not new!
The ancient Babylonians began the tradition of both celebrating the New Year and making resolutions about 4,000 years ago. Their resolutions often centered around paying their debts and returning borrowed equipment. Ancient Romans made promises of good conduct for the coming year. Early Christians began the tradition of thinking about our past mistakes and resolving to do better in the future.
If you’re anything like me, you were taught to make huge New Year’s resolutions without putting much thought into them. I can’t tell you how many years I vowed to lose weight, quit smoking, or make more money. These resolutions barely made it a week – if that, before I fell back into my old habits.
I’m not alone. 45 percent of people say they make New Year’s resolutions, and only 8 percent are successful.
That’s why I stopped making resolutions and started setting intentions!
What’s the difference?
A resolution states the destination. An intention is a guided action that leads to the destination. With a resolution, we typically state what we want, and don’t put a lot of thought into what actions will get us there. When we set an intention, we know our why, and have a plan of action to get us to our desired goal.
Consider the story of The Hare & the Tortoise.
The Hare represents resolutions. The Hare knew he was fast. He believed that the tortoise was silly for imagining that he could win a race against him. He set his sights on the destination – the finish line. He was so sure of himself, that he took the time to nap.
The Tortoise knew that to win, he needed to take steady action to the finish line. He didn’t wear himself out. He took his time, enjoyed the journey, and stayed in the present moment. His consistent action won the race.
Setting intentions will yield results that last.
In The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy, he explains how steady small steps yield BIG RESULTS.
Hardy shares that when we choose to do something consistently, it’s our compound actions that yield the desired results and that we also get many other positive outcomes in the process.
For instance, if you set an intention to contact five potential clients each day, five days a week, you will increase your client base. However, you’ll also increase your confidence, and your monetary situation, and forge better relationships.
If you intend to meditate each day, outcomes could be increased peace, more creativity, an increased client base, better relationships, and improved health.
When setting resolutions, most people don’t think of the small actions they can take and typically try to make big changes very quickly. And their resolutions rarely indicate things that are in their control. Whereas with intentions, your actions are one hundred percent in your control.
Remember, actions are what will create the results you want. Actions are the key to arriving at your desired destination.
Let’s compare resolutions (not in your control) to intentions (within your control.)
Resolution: I will earn $10,000 a month
Intention: I will make an offer once a month
Resolution: I will build my list to 10,000
Intention: Each month I will participate in two list-building strategies
Resolution: I will lose 30 pounds
Intention: I will track what I eat daily
Set your intentions for the new year. Get the support you need. Support can be in the form of a mentor, an accountability buddy, or an assistant who could do some of the action steps for you.
