New Year’s Resolutions – Looking Back to Plan Forward

By Ashley Cannard

It’s that time of year, when excitement builds as you look forward to the New Year while looking back on the last. Making plans and dreaming of a year full of successful resolutions.

One of life’s most important self-gifts is the gift of dreaming. But with dreaming comes responsibility – you need a plan. This doesn’t necessarily mean a detailed project or a to-do-list, rather an internal and an external plan.

Internal Plan
Having an internal plan is comprised of three things: Managing your thought processes, daily actions and personal accountability.

External Plan
Once you’ve mastered the internal plan, it’s time to start taking steps toward adapting to your surroundings. Finding yourself in a new environment is what life is all about – so why not use that to your own advantage? This gives you exclusive access to learn new skills, meet new people and achieve new goals.
Without a plan, even the most brilliant idea or passionate desire will end up on a shelf, collecting dust with all of your other unfulfilled desires.


12 Questions to Ask Yourself When Creating Your New Year’s Resolutions

1. What were your resolutions for 2013?
2. Which goals were reached and which ones weren’t? 
3. Did you meet all of your goals? And be honest!
4. What did you excel at this past year?
5. What were some of your greatest challenges?
6. What could you do differently next year to reach your goals?
7. Where do you see yourself a year from now?
8. Why do you want this goal? Be specific.
9. What obstacles may you come across? Think internal and external.
10. What plans could you put into place to overcome those obstacles?
11. Do you have a support system, someone to keep you accountable?
12. What is your reward if you achieve your goals? 

Once you’ve answered these questions, make sure to share them with a friend or a family member, anyone who will hold you accountable. Celebrate the start of the New Year and spend an amazing New Years Eve in Detroit at a party that is guaranteed to make memories for a lifetime.