You’ve probably made them in the past. You may have even made some in the past few days. They’re called “New Year Resolutions” and people tend to make them toward the end of the year or sometime at the beginning of a new year.
I wonder…what are your New Year Resolutions?
Did you bother to make any this year? Are your resolutions nearly identical to what you “proposed” for yourself last year?
Most Common New Year Resolutions
There are all kinds of promises people make to themselves over the course of the year, and some New Year Resolutions are echoed by the masses. Here are seven of some of the most common:
- Lose weight
- Make more money
- Quit smoking
- Get married
- Finish that novel you’ve been writing for ___ years now
- Start a side business
- Read the Bible every day for the year
Some New Year Resolutions are very good and some are…well…they are little more than “pipe dreams” with not much of a chance for ultimate victory.
Truths About New Year Resolutions
I recently heard a statistic, based upon a scientific study, which claimed that 42% of people fail or abandon their New Year Resolutions within the first seven (7) days of the new year! Wow, that’s amazing.
And kind of sad.
There are also studies which indicate that people who write their goals down are “significantly” more likely to accomplish their goals than those people who don’t bother to write them down by hand.
There’s much to be said about going the extra step to write down your goals, such as a Personal Development Plan.
Do yourself a favor when creating your New Year Resolutions and consider following these 3 tips:
- Be specific–not general–with your goals. (A specified amount of weight by a specific date on the calendar, for example)
- Write them down by hand. Sure, you could type them out on your laptop, but there’s just something about writing them down that makes them more personal.
- Frame your New Year Resolutions in a picture frame and hang it next to the door in your office or bedroom. Out of sight, out of mind. If you see them regularly you’re more likely to track them and cross each off the list once it’s been achieved.
New Year Resolutions for Christian Leaders
Leaders are people who influence other people. If no one is following you then you’re not really leading. If no one is following you then it’s time to reevaluate your strategy.
Here are 5 New Year Resolutions for Christian leaders:
- Make the “glory of God” the basis for your strategies, goals, resolutions, and dreams. (God is not likely to bless foolish plans or goals that exclude him.)
- Run your New Year Resolutions by a mentor or your accountability partners. What, you don’t have a mentor or any accountability partners? Your leadership can’t truly be taken seriously if there’s no guidance or accountability. Get a mentor or an accountability partner(s) ASAP.
- Read through the book of Proverbs before you determine your goals or New Year Resolutions. The book of Proverbs is 31 chapters long. Read one chapter per day, beginning in mid-November and you’ll be ready to compose your New Year Resolutions with wisdom by mid-December. (Or spend the next 31 days reading through the book of Proverbs and then put your goals together.) The Lord gave us an inspired book of wisdom for a reason, so let’s be wise to use it–and often, too!
- Choose a number of goals or New Year Resolutions between 7 and 10. Too small a number will not push you far enough and too high a number just isn’t attainable.
- Create goals or New Year Resolutions that are specific to a number of areas in your life. Don’t make the goals all “financial.” Create some that are geared toward family, fitness, fun, relationships, ministry, giving, etc.
A Christian leader is a well-rounded person of applied influence! (Click here to Tweet that last sentence)
And there you have it. Focus on these five main rules for goal-setting and/or creating your New Year Resolutions and you’ll be a Christian leader after God’s own heart.
May God richly bless your business, career, life, and ministry for his glory!
What are the New Year Resolutions that you’ve made for yourself.