Resolutions, according to the dictionary, are firm decisions to do or not to do something. It is the action of solving problems,  disputes or contentious matters. The key word is FIRM. Most resolutions are just wishful thinking or nice intentions. And since that is the case 99% of the time, there is probably a reason--hopefully one that can be easily overcome.

I have suggestions. 

1) You need a plan. Most people just make the decision in the mind, and then think they will simply fulfill their wish by keeping it in mind. Most of the time it turns into something that nags at them but gets them nowhere. Making a plan by actually sitting down and writing something on paper will be incentive to begin, and beginning is nearly the hardest part of accomplishing any goal.

2) Make the plan as if you were going into business or planning an investment program. Get out a large pad of paper, not a simple notebook size pad. I like the newsprint used for sketching or in kids classes for scribbling and drawing. I also use a grid--preferably one that is nearly the size of a desk calendar: the kind that fits under your keyboard or whatever is on the desk. There is something about that kind of architect-y appearance that suggests you are taking your self seriously. And you should be.

3) Get writing instruments worthy of the project. If you want to lose weight, use colors like Sharpie (28 colors and counting) or Uniball gel pen (all the fashion colors along with the business stuff) or Scholar colored pencils. You might want to include sketches of your intended project. Have either a good pen or pencil ready to make notes.

4) Now--ask your self how important this resolution is. Lots of folks say they want to accomplish something--quit smoking, stay on a better diet, write a family history, jog for 15 minutes each morning and on and on. If you haven't yet fit it into the schedule, ask yourself why. The answer cannot be that you have no time. Only people with three jobs and half a dozen kids get to opt out on that one. Usually you can find the fifteen minutes. Make a list of the parts of the day where that 15 minutes might be located. And be honest about how badly you want to see this resolution come to pass. If there are excuses, write them down. If there are lots of reasons why you should pursue the goal, write them down.

5) Now ask what it will cost to get it done. Discipline? Money? Time apart from someone? Space where you can think without interruption? There are endless reasons why the cost may be too high, or why the value of other things outweighs what you are trying to accomplish. If you already have a dozen things that require your time, are you setting yourself up for a fall--for a big, guilty fall--or are you blaming something with less significance in order to avoid something important that you simply don't feel like doing? The bottom line is that commitment is what puts you over, and until something drives you to commit, you are already in the soup, or the dust, or the sunset. Start small.

6) If you have waded through all this previous unpleasantness, and you still want to give your resolution a shot, then there are a few fun things you can do to set yourself up. I will describe them in a Part Two that will post at the same time as Part One in case you are so eager to begin that you can't wait for the second post.