A New You Resolution

Lucy M. Raoof, M.A. Ed.  Photo: Urban News

It’s a new year, which means new resolutions and a fresh opportunity to make some changes in your life.

by Lucy Mauldin Raoof

Normally, your resolutions include a list of things you want to do. This year, take a moment to focus on the person you want to be.

According to experts, 40 to 50 percent of the population make New Years resolutions — and approximately 30 to 40 percent of those resolutions will be broken by the end of the first week! What that track record means is that when some people set goals, they are really setting themselves up for failure.

Here’s a Different Approach for 2010

Far more important than “what do you want to do” goals is a
set of “what do you want to be” goals. What you are ultimately
determines what you are going to do — which is why it’s always a
mistake to decide what you want to do before you determine who or what
you are.

A person’s potential or talent sometimes propels them farther
and faster than their character or maturity can sustain. We see
examples of this in the media with reckless behavior by politicians,
entertainers, and sports figures. These failings should remind us all
that setting achievement goals before you have established some
character goals is a mistake.

In his book Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, Stephen R.
Covey suggests that you write down what you would want people to say
about you at your funeral: “What you want said about you in the end, is
your personal definition of success.” As you identify these things
about your character, you will find that they build a perimeter around
your behavior.

That perimeter soon becomes so hardwired in your makeup that anytime you stray outside it, you will feel like a failure.

Make your New Year’s challenge setting “BE” goals. You’re going
to be “something” in 2010, so why not decide for yourself what you want
to be. Feel the magnitude of this commitment. These goals need to seep
from your mind to your heart to form a subconscious perimeter around
your behavior. They’ll help you discover who you really want to be.

When you are sincere in these endeavors, you will have a “new”
sense of purpose — and you will find that others will work with you to
help you become the person you want to be. You’ll also find that you’re
a lot more motivated to be the person that God has called you to be.

Lucy M. Raoof, M.A. Ed, is a native of Murphy, NC, and
previously taught Business Education for the Buncombe County School
System; and presently is the Vice- President of Operations for Mauldin
Brand Agency of Atlanta, GA. As a world traveler, she is the
Owner/President of “Juice Unlimited,” an International Business,
Consulting & Special Events firm. For Speaking or Business
engagements, Ms. Raoof can be reached at:  [email protected]