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Resolution Rule #1

Guest post by: Sharon Jentzer

Article Overview: Of the 40-45% of American adults who make resolutions each year, most resolve to improve their lifestyle. However, one quarter of those resolutions fall by the wayside within one week and less than 50% last six months. The people who make these resolutions truly want to live better, yet they fall far short of living a healthier, wealthier life. It is easy to find a list of pointers on how to keep a resolution, but these lists are missing, or downplay the most important ingredient you need to keep your resolution. The experts tell you to set realistic goals, plan for obstacles, etc. These guidelines appeal to your rational brain. Human beings are not rational. We are emotional. If you want to accomplish anything important you must understand the emotions involved.

Resolution Rule #1

Of the 40-45% of American adults who make resolutions each year, most resolve to improve their lifestyle by losing weight, exercising more, stopping smoking, and managing their money better. However, one quarter of those resolutions fall by the wayside within one week and less than 50% last six months. The people who make these resolutions truly want to live better, yet they fall far short of living a healthier, wealthier life. How can that be?

It is easy to find a list of pointers on how to keep a resolution, but these lists are missing, or downplay the most important ingredient you need to keep your resolution. The experts tell you to set realistic goals, plan for obstacles, track your progress, involve a support group, reward yourself for progress and add variety to your activities. These guidelines appeal to your rational brain. I can see you nodding your head, saying, "that's right, I'm a rational person." I'm sorry to break the news to you, but human beings are not rational. We are emotional. If you want to accomplish anything important you must understand the emotions involved. It does not matter whether we are talking about world peace or your waistline. Making progress requires that you account for the emotions involved in the status quo as well as the emotions involved in making fundamental changes.

Rule number one in making a resolution is to dig deep and find out why this resolution is compelling to you. Why is it so important to you that you are willing to turn your whole way of living on its head, to incorporate this change into your life? You might be embarrassed to tell even your closest confidant that what means most to you sounds like a superficial reason for wanting to make this change. Fine. You don't need to tell anyone why you really want to make this resolution. You can tell them a perfectly rational, objective, even lofty reason. Just remember, when the going gets tough, and it will, you need a very strong, emotionally important reason to stay the course.

I know you can do it. You get up every day and face the world. You owe it to yourself to find a truly meaningful reason why you also deserve to live a healthier, wealthier life.

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Article Tags: brain, emotions, lifestyle, obstacles, realistic goals, resolution rule, resolutions



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Re: New Year Resolutions... - My New Years Resolution is to be earning $500+ with my online business. This includes any freelance work that I do. I'm about half-way there now. Another Resolution is to look into selling more on eBay and maybe finding a reputable dropshipper that offers competitive pricing on high-demand items. I like eBay and the opportunity that it provides. I've mainly been selling personal items, but I'd like to start tapping into a larger market and making some significant income on eBay.
Re: New Year Resolutions... - [quote="Alan Mater":2acona1t]My New Years Resolution is to be earning $500+ with my online business. This includes any freelance work that I do. I'm about half-way there now. Another Resolution is to look into selling more on eBay and maybe finding a reputable dropshipper that offers competitive pricing on high-demand items. I like eBay and the opportunity that it provides. I've mainly been selling personal items, but I'd like to start tapping into a larger market and making some significant income on eBay.[/quote:2acona1t] Hi Alan, Do you mean $500+ per month? And when you're selling items on eBay from a reputable dropshipper... do you think it's still important to pick a product you're passionate about (like what an entrepreneur would normally do when starting a business)? Or is it just about moving a popular item for profit on eBay?
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Re: New Year Resolutions... - [quote="Kevin Lee":398jg5d7][quote="Alan Mater":398jg5d7]My New Years Resolution is to be earning $500+ with my online business. This includes any freelance work that I do. I'm about half-way there now. Another Resolution is to look into selling more on eBay and maybe finding a reputable dropshipper that offers competitive pricing on high-demand items. I like eBay and the opportunity that it provides. I've mainly been selling personal items, but I'd like to start tapping into a larger market and making some significant income on eBay.[/quote:398jg5d7] Hi Alan, Do you mean $500+ per month? And when you're selling items on eBay from a reputable dropshipper... do you think it's still important to pick a product you're passionate about (like what an entrepreneur would normally do when starting a business)? Or is it just about moving a popular item for profit on eBay?[/quote:398jg5d7] Hi Kevin, Yes, sorry I didn't clarify. My goal is to make $500+ per month. I would say yes, pick products that you have an interest in. That's the best option if you're going to like what you do. Hopefully you can find a balance between products you're interested in and products that are in high demand.
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