New Year's Resolutions.

New Year's Resolutions are fine, but the once a year enthusiasm to stop smoking, lose weight, eat better and exercise more don't usually last more than a few weeks. Spur of the moment resolutions usually lack the real motivation to succeed, and large and vague resolutions become too overwhelming to succeed. In practical terms, it is much better to forget about New Year's Resolutions and just make resolutions as you go through the year, one at a time and then plan to implement them in a practical way. In this article Maria Hocking (Life Coach) describes how she talks with clients about the resolutions they want to make.

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New Year's Resolutions At Any Time Of The Year

Entering the New Year, I start to see many new faces, new clients recognising that changes needs to happen, and wanting help to make those changes. I often hear people refer to “New Years Resolutions”, and yes, it’s great to create positive change in our lives but why wait until every January to allow ourselves to think about our future, and what we truly want?

I recall the first time many years ago (whilst training to be a coach) that somebody asked me the question “What do you want?” At the time, this question literally stunned me because it suddenly dawned on me that I had never really considered what I wanted from life. At that moment, (and I can describe it as being hit with a force like you wouldn’t believe), I finally realised how important it was to look to the future and plan for and get what I really wanted. And this revelation happened in the month of July, not January!

Since then, I have made “goal setting” and planning my future one of the top priorities in my life, and I am truly happy and fulfilled and continue to be so because of it. I spent years “sat on the back seat of the bus” going wherever it took me, but when I realised that I could “get up and get into the drivers seat”, and go where I really wanted, my life became what I truly wanted it to be. Think about YOUR life right now……are you sat on the back seat, living a life that someone else has chosen for you, or are you sat driving, with a massive smile on your face, and a bigger smile in your heart?

For those that are on the back seat, I would like to ask you “What do you want from your life?” because the likelihood is, you have never been asked that question. Whether you are in a job you don’t like, a relationship you are not happy with, or just get up every day and don’t like what you do, then YOU ARE ON THE BACK SEAT OF THE BUS. The great thing is, you don’t have to wait until next New Year to decide to learn to drive the bus. You can decide to do it right now.

Many people tell me that they are not happy with their jobs or their lives, but they don’t know what they do want, or what will make them happy. I will tell you, just as I told them that WE ARE GIVEN CLUES TO OUR PURPOSE and what will make us happy throughout our whole life, and we often fail to recognise them. Try for a moment asking yourself the following questions:

What did I enjoy doing as a child?
What did I want to be when I grew up?
What have I always been good at?
What do I love to do so much that I would pay to do it?
What makes me feel truly alive?

These questions can often reveal much about our true desires and the answers often open up new ideas and new ways of thinking. When you have new ideas, you can begin to set new goals! Before you know it, you’ll be driving the bus!!

For those that are already in the driving seat, congratulations! It’s really important as a driver that you continue to reach new destinations, always, forever….and for the rest of your life. Keep your foot firmly on the accelerator, only applying the brakes now and again to pause and allow yourself to check the sat nav to make sure you are still headed in the right direction. And most importantly of all, don’t forget to celebrate your achievements along the way with big smiles and screams of delight!

About the Author

Maria Hocking is a life coach in Helston, Cornwall with a passion for helping her clients to change their lives. Since qualifying as a fitness instructor Maria has been a serial entrepreneur, starting one business after another, and finally finding her passion in life, which is helping other people achieve their full potential. Maria is also a dynamic motivational speaker and presenter with a warm, infectious, bubbly, outgoing personality, who gets straight to the point and speaks from her heart. Maria can be contacted through her web site at www.mariahocking.com