How your beliefs could actually sabotage your New Years resolutions

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” Henry Ford

I’m sure you will agree with me that Christmas is a great time of year.

For us here in the southern hemisphere its summer and typically our weather is warm, with cool afternoon breezes, school finishes, many families go on holidays, and theres usually a real positive vibe in the air.

This year however much of the south east coast of Australia is struggling with the ongoing threat of bushfires. My thoughts go out to all those who have lost and suffered so much during the bushfires this summer.

For others though it’s the only time of the year when everything slows down a notch or two, when phones stop ringing and emails slow to a manageable crawl.

And of course there’s another New Year. A great time to catch up with family & friends, share a few laughs, some good food and maybe even time to stop have a break and maybe reflect on the year and think about next year.

• What’s worked for you and what hasn’t worked as well?

• Where you are at?

• Where are you going?

• How will you do it differently next year?

• Maybe for you there’s lots to think about and maybe even make a change or two?

Maybe next year you might do things a little differently and plan a little more, rather than running by the seat of your pants.

But you start to remember you’ve tried it all before and it sounds good when you are on holidays and have some good intentions. But like before when you get back to work even by smoko on the first week, all your plans fade away and everything goes back to the way it was.

So you forget about it, and grab another cold one as you head back to your favourite chair on the back deck and soak up the cool breeze. There goes your chance of making a lasting change.

Your belief that you can’t change and that things will keep going back to the way they were holding you back.

You see a belief is something you believe as true even though there may not be any solid proof. So this can have a huge impact on your life and how you interpret your word in a good or not so good way.

It’s these limiting beliefs are the ones that hold you back, because the fear of failure (back to our primal ancestors and the fear of getting eaten by a sabre tooth tiger) is why we don’t start.

But it doesn’t have to be this way and things can be different this year.It all starts with you. One step at a time. Let’s go!

“Rome wasn’t built in a day”.

How about this year instead of just thinking about it, what about grabbing a pen and notepad and writing a few things down.

Something that I do that I learned from strategist Tony Robbins is to start with a new page for each of your goals. You might like to have a separate page for your personal, business, adventure goals as well as another for helping others out and start making a plan for the next 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 years.

Think about it what’s on your bucket list? You don’t have to wait until you retire, why not start planning now.

• How is your health and wellness?

• What’s your next adventure?

• How are you really feeling?

• Would you like to run a half marathon?

• How do you feel when you look in the mirror?

• Would you like to spend more time with your wife, your husband or partner?

• Spend some real time with your kids, because there’s a good chance they won’t be around for much longer if they have to leave home to work or study.

Just start with one thing.

Something you are really want to achieve and change and make sure you are very clear about exactly what you want and why do you want it.

Don’t worry too much about the how at this stage. Our subconscious minds are an incredible tool that can help you sift through a ton of information that you see, smell and hear every day and guide you on the right path.

To just say “I want to get fit” is not specific enough and has too many variables.

A better want is “I want to run a half marathon” as there are some very specific things you need to do to prepare yourself mentally and physically to do this.

Look for a coach or a mentor who has done what you want to achieve and let them guide you. Be open to their direction, even if it’s against the grain of what you may have done in the past.

This approach is exactly what most successful people do. No matter if it is in business, sports or personal life having precise short medium and long term goals is critical. Write these down and review daily to reinforce in you mind what they are and then start developing new routines to build on these and condition your mind everyday to keep moving forward.

Once you start and get underway give it time and test if your new approach is working. And I mean real time which maybe a few months of solid effort and see where you are at.

Learn to enjoy the journey and the experiences along the way rather than just the outcome so you can find small pleasures and have fun everyday.

If there is a change, then keep on going.

If there is no change at all, perhaps question the approach, learn from it and change direction with a new approach.

I remember back to when I was really sick with a chronic illness, my wife and I searched for years testing and trialling all sorts of conventional and unconventional western and eastern approaches to find a cause and then find a cure. To get my health back and then recover and to feel well again was unbelievable.

So this year, try a new approach with a real direction and start getting your health and wellness back on track for good.

A massive thanks to the efforts of the Rural Fire Service, Fire Brigade, Emergency Services, National Parks & Forestry Corporation for all your efforts over the past few months, as well all volunteers that rallied to support.