- Decision
- Dedication
- Determination
How dedicated are you to having a successful and prosperous new year? How determined are you to start a new and or different course this year? More importantly, have you decided to make the changes you need to make?
These are questions to ask yourself today. If you are not dedicated and determined, your year will not be effective. Any decision you make will peter out. This new year is a great time to focus or refocus. Let’s break down why it is important to be decided, dedicated, and determined.
DECISION
Nothing is ever done or accomplished without first making a decision. Why is this so hard for some of us to do? Most likely it is because we will need to make some sort of a change that we don’t want to make. Because we know that if we make a decision, we are supposed to stick with it. Take me for instance, I want to lose some weight and tone up. But have I done it? Nope! I haven’t made a decision to. Oh yeah, I have attempted to eat less and exercise, but there is no real true and lasting commitment, no actual follow through, no consistency.
A decision must be more settled. There must be some sort of accountability. You can’t halfway make a decision. You will know that you have truly decided to do something only when you take steps and make plans to see your decision through. If I want to lose weight, I will have to do more than just eat less and exercise sporadically, I will have to make a “life change.” That’s really what a decision is-a life change. You say to yourself, “Ok. I have had enough of this or that!”
DEDICATION
Once a decision is made, this is where dedication comes in. It’s one thing to decide, but it is another to stick with a decision once it is made. Why is that? We are lazy, that’s why! Deep down, we want things to be easy, and we don’t want to work that hard.
Think of something you have decided to do. Have you actually taken the steps and made plans for its completion? If you haven’t, then you are not dedicated. To be dedicated means that you are wholly committed to the task at hand. Dedication means devoted to a purpose. This is when you really know that your mind is made up. You don’t waver. You say to yourself, “It’s NOW or NEVER!”
DETERMINATION
A never give up mentality is what you have when you are determined. Your thinking is that no one or nothing is going to get in your way and stop you from making progress. No matter what decision you have made for this new year or are making, see it to its end. Say to yourself, “I will finish strong!”
I wrote a book about being determined. Being Grateful: How to Open the Door to a More Fulfilled & Abundant Life in 13 Easy Steps (The BEING GRATEFUL Series) (Volume 1)
In Chapter 2 of my book, Engage Yourself, I talk about the story of The Tortoise and the Hare. In this classical children’s story, the tortoise (turtle), although slower, manages to beat the hare (rabbit) in a race. The turtle wins because he stays focused and determined; whereas, the rabbit gets distracted and sidetracked.
Remember, as you head into 2018, whatever course you take, keep your focus! If you need to make changes, make them! There is no better time than the present. Make your plans and take your steps.
Happy 2018!
Until February,
Janice
