As we inch our way toward the end of the year, you’ll begin to see multiple New Year’s resolution articles with ways to better yourself in 2025. I’d like to give you an option you may not have considered.
Scrap the idea of a New Year’s resolution, make a life resolution instead.
New Year’s resolutions don’t work because we’re putting off what we can start doing today. Deciding to make life resolutions will provide you with the proper motivation needed in order to make real and lasting change in your life.
Getting Started
Taking your first step toward change is always the hardest. If you’re overweight, heading out the door for that initial run or walk is difficult. For anyone in debt, deciding to take a scissor to those credit cards is both liberating and scary at the same time. The fact you put one foot in front of the other or a sharp blade to plastic is what matters. Even a small gesture or movement is progress.
It’s important to give yourself grace in the face of adversity. You’re going to get down on yourself. You’re going to wonder how you can get yourself out of the situation you’re in. This is especially true when it comes to financial trouble. Think of your debt as a tied up piece of yarn. It’s ugly, mangled and difficult but not impossible to unravel. Trust yourself to pull on that first thread.
Set Realistic Goals
This one seems easy but it’s not. Let’s use an example:
- You have $50K worth of debt on 5 credit cards
- Two cards hold $30K while the other three hold the other $20K
- The smallest debt is $5K on a store credit card
Rather than set a goal to pay off all $50K in one year, start small. Your first goal should be to pay off the card with the smallest amount of debt ($5K). Other than avoiding further debt, this is the one and only goal you should be focused on.
Once this is paid off, you can set your next goal and on and on it goes. Before you know it, you’ll be debt free. You can apply this same principle to weight loss, getting in shape or any other life improvement you want to make.
I’m ready to get started on my next goal but could use some help.
Take the other end of this thread and start pulling.
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