Mid-session, I noticed my client Nancy’s face shift into a look of dismay as her eyes locked in on the wall calendar to my right. “Ughh…It’s that time of year. I guess I have to make my New Years Resolutions,” she said. “Let’s take a step back, what is it you want to accomplish when you make your New Years Resolutions?” I responded. “Every year I end up feeling stressed and overwhelmed by my resolutions and ultimately like a failure when I don’t accomplish them. For once, I would love to create resolutions that I could actually stick to!” said Nancy.

Can you relate to Nancy? If so, you’re not alone. Statistics show that 88% of New Years Resolutions are broken before the end of the year. Sure, there are ways to increase your chances of beating these odds, but to me, New Years Resolutions feel forced, obligatory and sometimes even disingenuous.

Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that the end of the year is a good time to ponder, reflect and define what you want the next year to look like. But, instead of resolutions, I find it more fulfilling to create some inspiring and meaningful goals.

To start the process, set aside some quiet time to answer a few questions. Create an environment that gets your juices flowing; perhaps with music, candles, a cup of tea? You decide. You might need to do this in a few sittings. You can skip questions you are having trouble answering and come back to them later. Note that the most difficult questions to answer are often the most poignant ones.

Questions to help you create YOUR Meaningful Goals:

1. What is worth suffering for?
2. What do I want more of in my life?
3. What do I want less of in my life?
4. Based on my daily routine and actions, where can I expect to be in five years?
5. What do I need to spend more (or less) time doing going forward?
6. What will my life look like one year from now if I act today?
7. Who in my life is helping or hurting me?
8. For my life to be perfect, what would have to change?
9. What am I willing to do to live the life I have imagined?
10. What is one thing I would love to do before I die?

Review your answers and look for themes. Does anything jump out at you? Write down the themes.  Spend a few days thinking about them. Which ones excite you? Surprise you? Scare you?

Once you have identified the themes, enter your email in the form below to get my FREE 2015 Goal Setting Workbook. The workbook will help you create meaningful goals, action steps and a plan for success.

Once you have done this, you will never feel like you have to make a New Years Resolution again. Contact me at Barbara@barbarawassermancoaching.com with your feedback or to book a Goal Success Enhancement Session.

Want to connect directly with Barbara, book your Complimentary 30 minute JUMPSTART YOUR NEXT CHAPTER Strategy Session HERE

For those of you who would like to make more connections with other midlife women, I invite you to join my Midlife Reinvention Facebook Group.  You will gain access to training and resources from me and connect to almost 300 like-minded midlife women who inspire and support one another as they navigate and create their most fulfilling next acts.

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