This Year's Resolution to Simplify

     

       Like many people, January is the time of the year when I spend a lot of time evaluating what we accomplished the year just finished and what we want to accomplish in the year to come.  Many people make resolutions in January that are often too much for them to accomplish. I have a tendency to do the same thing. For instance, last year I resolved to write 365 articles. I probably wrote about 20. I also wanted to lose 50 pounds. I didn’t lose the weight either.  I obviously over-committed. This year I want to do something different. I want to make my life simpler, not more difficult, That’s why this year, my goal is to be productive by focusing on finishing what I have already started. Also,  I have decided that it is important for me to focus on the results, not just the actions so that I know whether what I am doing is productive or not.

      Every day I have many different projects that I could be doing. I know that I cannot do all of them, so it is important for me to determine which of these different projects and the tasks related to them result in fulfilling my long-term goals.  When scheduling what I intend to do each day, I must ask myself, “How does what I do today connect me with my long-term goal.”

      My daily tasks are markers to determine if I am accomplishing my short-term goals (goals I have created for the month, quarter or year), my short-term goals lead to my long-term goals (goals  that extend beyond one year, into three, five or ten years.)   

        Everything that I do, should be guided by my life’s purpose, my vision, and my mission.  By working toward what I know I want out of life, I will simplify my life by focusing on living my life the way I know that I am destined to live. That is what I am determining to do this year. That is my resolution for 2013.

          This year I have made the resolution simplify my life for results, not disappointment.