Thursday, December 13, 2012

Creativity Tips: How to Make Better Resolutions

Do you have your goals in mind for 2013? Want to lose 10 pounds of creative baggage? Exercise your right to write? Or do  you just want to lose 20 literal pounds? Which, of course, you will do by EXERCISING EVERY DAY. Twice on Sundays.

Yep. Been there. Resolved that. Fortunately, making better resolutions -- and keeping them -- is easier than you might think.

1. Think small. Don't make 10 resolutions -- just looking at the list is overwhelming. How about one resolution re: your career, one for relationships, one just for you and one for creativity? Hmm. Four sounds like a lot to me. Think three.
2. Focus on the positive. Where do you want to be in December 2013? Focus on that instead of the effort it takes to get there. Do you want to diet and exercise? Maybe. Maybe not. Do you want to be healthy and strong? I'm guessing yes. (For example, my "diet" resolution is: I will make mindful choices about what I eat. Just thinking about that resolution kept me from eating french fries last night.)
3. Make resolutions that matter -- to you. Be honest with yourself. Maybe you don't really want to write a book or compose a symphony. Maybe your creative goal has more to do with learning to play the kazoo. Very cool. Go for it. These are not your mother's resolutions.

Once you've made the resolutions, be kind to yourself. Remember that every day is a fresh start. Don't quit just because you "slip." When you take two steps forward and one back, you're still one step ahead of where you were!

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