What About the Resolutions We Keep?

Many of us commit to start or stop, do more or do less of something in the upcoming year. Yes, the old dreaded New Year's Resolutions - the ones that most of us don't keep for more than 36 hours (or 36 minutes) into the new year. A lot will be written and spoken over the next few weeks about the new year and the many resolutions most of us will not keep. Well, what about the commitments that will be kept into the next year. Are they really worth keeping? Will our lives or the lives of others REALLY be better off as a result of keeping these resolutions?

As we move into the year 2012, maybe we should make a different kind of commitment. What if each of us commits to TRULY finding and living our purpose? What if we commit to spending the best hours of each day, best days of each week, best weeks of each month, and best years of our lives, doing more and more of what we have been called to do? Imagine how much better the lives of the recipients of our commitments would be. Imagine how much more fulfilled we would be.

As an additional benefit, when your life purpose is clear and you are living it more and more, there is no need to find a different New Year's resolution every year. You only need to ask one simple question, "How can I live my purpose more during next year?" Think about it.... What will you commit to do in 2012?

The Ladder and the Wall

While the economic downturn has had many varied affects on people around the world, one of the most amazing results of this challenging period is the number of people that have revisited their career focus - some by choice and others by force. Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, as I speak with coaching clients, travelers on airplanes or shoppers in the grocery store, there is one recurring theme: My ladder has been leaning on the wrong wall. You may have heard the saying (not sure of the originator): I climbed the ladder to success only to learn that my ladder was leaning on the wrong wall. This is a realization of many a would-be business person, attorney, physician, educator, government official, etc.

We all were born with a passion for something - that thing that we just love to do and are good at. That thing that we would not really consider work...the activity we prefer when we are not doing the things we HAVE to do. A layoff, extended working hours, workplace stress, meaningless work, or other affects of the prolonged downturn have resulted in people turning to what they love and what is meaningful to devote their best years, treasured gifts and most precious time. Why? Because they were awakened by the current environment and decided to move the ladder to the other wall - from success to fulfillment. And, it is quite amazing how much more fun these people are to be around. There is no substitute for fulfillment in life. No substitute.

Invest Now.

I have grown really tired of hearing people talk endlessly about what they really want to do, but are unwilling to make the necessary investments to pursue. To live your passion or dream requires an investment of time, resources, commitment and action!

Make a commitment to only talk about your passion or dream after you have done something about it. Let your words serve as reinforcement for the actions you’ve already taken, not excuses for what you have not done.

Begin investing in your passion and dream now with actions. Success in this area is like successful financial investing – it requires time and consistency. Take action now and you may be surprised with the rate of return.