The Evolution of My New Year's Resolutions

Keeping a New Year's Resolution is not that unrealistic.

A list of goals...with no direction? Plans'll make
her dance. 

It's a pressure-filled demand to overhaul an aspect of your life. Is it impossible? Hell nah! Saying it's time for a "New Year, New You" does cause concern, however. We should not deny the positives that rose from the previous year; some of our greatest blessings have surfaced during our darkest moments. 

Making upgrades to our life does offer a beneficial alternative; my frat brother termed it "A New Year, Better You". If iPads and iPods can add features every year, so can we. So what do we work on? Here's a new look on some common areas.

Finance. It is a goal of most to make that "papuh", but how many of us are properly utilizing and maintaining the money we already have? For the last year, I've worked to apply the "Charles Perry Financial Game Plan". Dad's advice is simple. There are two ways to improve your economic status: Make more and/or spend less. Okay, that sounds easy...but how? To make more, we need to be proactive in moving up the chain (at your current company or another) and add supplemental income. A side job, a business venture, or a "hustle", (legal) extra income by any name is a positive. As for spending less, a decision must be made on what truly carries value in our life. Ask yourself, "Am I satisfied with instant gratification, or do I want things that have more benefit, but require sacrifice?" If you are interested in the latter, then there is someone you need to meet; her name is budget. She's a little demanding, but she'll make you better and will help you accomplish a lot of your goals. When you get tired of spending properly, remember this: you can go on those fancy dates and eat lavishly with the opposite sex, but it's hard to close the deal when you have nowhere to go for a nightcap. Trust me...I've been there.

Physical. "I'm getting fit this year!" 

Ok...that's cool. All I ask is that we go about this systematically. Say it slow: sys-te-matic-ally. We've all gotten riled up to get healthy, jumped into the gym and jumped out even faster. Let's make this health kick the one that puts us over the hump. Head to your workout with numeric goals in mind; calories, inches, pounds, etc. A suggestion is listing a weight to reach (or pounds to lose) and determining how much loss is required per week. Converting large goals into smaller ones is the key to seeing success. Mark Twain words it articulately:

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then getting starting on the first one." 

Time to dust off that Good Book.

Spiritual. Spirituality is a focus that many of us desire to improve on, but in order to grow, we need the "burning bush". While literally experiencing a burning bush would probably help us find God a lot quicker, I'm actually referring to a story in the Bible. In the book of Exodus, a story depicts Moses to a a bush in the land. The irony in this story is the bush is consumed with flames, yet is not burning down. The bush also speaks to Moses, and it reveals itself as the voice of God. God anoints Moses as the man to lead his people out Egypt and into the promised land. As we continue to live, we each will have a burning bush  moment where God speaks. It may be a pleasant moment or a time of darkness, but if and when these words occur, it is on you how you respond. 

No matter who or what you believe, we all are witness to things we can't understand or explain. For me, witnessing such things are reminders that dropping down and praying brings a sense of stability. 

In summary, as the New Year continues I wish you success and much happiness. With faith and work, your goals are always within reach. Though a "new" you is great, you are already special. If something better is truly the desired effect, the let the upgrades begin.

Cedric Perry is a producer, blogger, and author of the novels “In Line for Love” and “Homecoming”. Currently he produces the web sitcom “We’re Just Talking” and hosts “Pick 6″, a talk show which discusses everyday issues, highlighting how to successfully maneuver through them. For more, follow him on twitter at @chrisbrown_skin and check out his blog at www.cedsconfessions.com.

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