For Sustainable Results Put Your Energy Into Personal Growth and Development

by Suzie Doscher PSC

So how are you doing with those New Year’s Resolutions? We are already past the half way mark for this year, so this a good time to reflect on what resolutions you made, what was difficult, what changed easily, what results did you achieve and how you are doing overall.

I am not a big fan of New Year's Resolutions but agree it is a good time to consider a new beginning. I just happen to believe we can have a new beginning at any time of the year as long as we are ready to do the work. Neuroscience has proven that with practice and repetition the brain will rewire itself. In other words if you really want to change something YOU CAN.

Starting on the path of personal growth and development rather than thinking in terms of New Year’s Resolutions offers you a new beginning on many levels. 

Life changes all the time, sometimes daily. During your lifetime you never stop growing, developing and learning, which of course means changing.  If you resist this, you run the risk of staying stuck! 

On the path of personal growth each step you take results in change. Imagine climbing up a ladder. With each step your view changes and brings, a new perspective. If one of your habits is to say ‘yes’ even when you do not really want to, how about learning to get comfortable saying ‘no?’  It is not selfish to take better care of yourself! Taking better care of yourself allows you to take better care of others, BUT not at your expense.

Personal growth and development involves making choices that are right for you.

Here is how you do it

Increase your awareness as to what needs to change by asking yourself these questions:

What would make the biggest difference in my day-to-day life? What would make my life easier, more in line with my goals, my beliefs, my values, my purpose? Is it something at work, at home or in my relationship?

What exactly would make me happier, energized, excited, motivated, and stimulated?

If you are finding it difficult to work this out, think of one thing that would make a difference in your daily life and is easy to do such as:

• Getting up 10 minutes earlier so you are not rushing to work. 
  
• Choosing one day per week that you will leave work on time.
  
• Scheduling some down time so you are more present when you are with the family. 
  
• Practicing how to listen and communicate more effectively. 

Make good choices to ensure you get off to a good start:

• Choose one option.
  
• Choose how to start.
  
• Choose who can support you.
  
• Choose when to start.
  
• Choose to be realistic with your expectations.
  
• Choose to make your time frame realistic.
  
• And ALWAYS choose to be kind and patient with yourself along the way. It takes time and repetition to change things.

88% of New Year’s Resolutions Fail

According to the researcher Richard Wiseman, 88% of all resolutions set by Americans fail. This equals 156 million disappointed people.

Get started today by making a list of ‘What has to change', 
and
Get in touch to talk about how you can make this happen.

Suzie Doscher