Here’s a few thoughts that will help you accomplish your resolutions/commitments this year:

1. Take one step at a time. Most people never take the first step of a big project because they can’t see how all the other subsequent steps are going to work out. They are intimidated or fearful of the obstacles and challenges that may present themselves along the journey. Stop looking at the whole journey. You can only take one step at a time anyway. So, as you’re getting started, muster up enough strength and courage to take just one step. And tomorrow, you will only need enough strength to take one more step. And so on…

2. Push Past the Plateau. Despite the most disciplined and consistent efforts, we often hit plateaus on our way to reaching our goals. This can be quite frustrating, and can even cause us to quit. Whether we are talking about physical, emotional, or professional goals, the best way to break beyond the plateau and move forward is to change the routine. Confucius said, “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, do not adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”

3. Hire a Coach. Do you tend to make the same exact resolutions year after year? You may not need new commitments to succeed in the new year. You may just need ACCOUNTABILITY to help execute the old commitments. Consider hiring a coach (personal trainer, life coach, financial advisor) to help you. Often, just having someone to make you accountable can help you reach your goals.

(I shared these ideas on my friend, Jennifer Heasley‘s blog: Cooking with the Pros)