I’m sure you’ve heard this popular idiom (and I paraphrase for the kiddies out there)

Wish in one hand and poop in the other.  See which one gets filled first.

That’s right.

With the New Year upon us, it is a popular time to set goals and make resolutions.  Probably the same old same old: lose 10 pounds, get a promotion, etc.

But here’s the problem with goals and resolutions…

They’re hardly ever successful.

And let’s say they are successful…goals and resolutions have a way of giving you tunnel vision. How many opportunities did you overlook because it was not related to your “goal”.

As for me, I’m not much of a goal-oriented person.  In fact, I know of few people who write down all their goals and achieve them one by one.  The only people I see that do that are those who are writing a book about goal-setting (available for $XX.XX at your local booksellers or Amazon).

So what do you do if you’ve found yourself making resolutions and failing to keep them?

I have a suggestion:

Don’t make a resolution.  Don’t set a goal.  Set a direction for you to go.

Point yourself in one direction and go from there.  And every year the direction can change (or mid-year if you so desire).

In my case, this year my direction is: creativity.

This year I will look for ways to expand myself creativity.  And the best part is that I have no idea where it will end (or even begin).  But I will seek out all opportunities that lead to challenge and expand my creative talents.

If you want to lose weight.  Don’t give yourself a 10 pound or 15 pound ultimatum for failure.

Instead make your direction health and look for ways to bring health into your life.

So, where’s your direction?  Where do you want to go?