"Without a vision, the people perish." - Proverbs 29:18

Dear Friend,

Last week, I encouraged you to intentionally create more positive emotion in
your life as a strategy for success and resilience.  This week, I encourage
you to get clear about your vision for this year.  Clarity is power.  How
much clarity do you have about where you are headed in your work, finances,
health and relationships?

New Year's resolutions have gotten a bad rap.  Most folks set them out of
wishful thinking, but don't have a clear vision or realistic plan to reach
them.  By the end of the month, they're long forgotten and the following
year it is proclaimed that "resolutions don't work."  But resolutions - or
goals, as I prefer to call them - do work.  There are some rules you must
not break, though, if you are to succeed.  Breaking these rules means your
vision is fuzzy:

1.      Aiming at too much.
Sure, you may have a long list of bad habits you'd like to break, but if you
resolve to break them all at once, you're likely to overwhelm yourself and
give up.  Instead, build your confidence by setting small goals that you can
reach in the near term.  Make your goals small, specific and attainable. 

For example, if your goal is to lose 40 pounds and you've identified 10 bad
habits that have led to your weight gain, start by changing just one or two
habits.  Replace your afternoon visits to the vending machine with a healthy
snack you keep in your desk, or replace 30 minutes of television viewing
with a brisk walk with someone in your household.  Break your goals into
bite-sized pieces. 

2.      Not aiming at all.