Happy New Year 2022! It’s time to celebrate a brand-new year, a year full of new possibilities and renewed strength. I know the past two years have been a real roller coaster and full of emotions for many. However, you cannot lose hope and your trust in the Lord. I personally believe that the best is in front of us and not behind us. I have been meditating on Smith Wigglesworth saying: “I’m not moved by what I see, I’m not moved by what I feel, I’m only moved by what I believe”. So, let’s believe the words of the Lord concerning the good plans of prosperity and protection, the plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). You are blessed!
So, the question begs, what do you expect for 2022?
Let me ask you this: on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being further and 10 being closer), how satisfied are you with what you accomplished in 2021? If your answer is between 7 and 10 congratulations, way to go! If it is 6 and under, all I can say is I know the feeling, that discouraging feeling, right? Well, you are not alone.
Let’s review these facts. The statistic shows that only 8% achieve their new year’s resolutions. This means a majority of 92% do not! By the end of March, 60% drop out. The remnant of 8% is called high achievers. The good news is they were not born that way. So, you and I have a chance. One of their secrets is to form good habits by being consistent and faithful. I personally strongly believe that starting your day intentionally gives you more of a chance to accomplish your goals.
The key to habit formation is to practice daily what you want to accomplish. Some say to forming a new habit takes 21 days, some say 30 days, some say 40 days. Neuroscience says it takes 60 days for a daily action to become a habit placed on automatic mode in the back of the brain. Just like eating or brushing your teeth are automatic. You don’t question it or have an internal battle about it, you just do it!
So, I encourage you to start forming one new habit that will take you closer to what you really desire or need to change in this season of your life. Start with only 5 to 10 minutes daily. If your answer is “I don’t have extra time”, so here’s a thought: go to bed earlier or give up some time watching television, playing video games, or screening your favorite social media. We always make time for what matters the most. Think about it!
High achievers have daily habits and believe in personal development. They know that working on themselves and doing their best will contribute to their own welfare and the welfare of those around them.
8 habits of high achievers:
- They have a daily routine to cultivate healthy habits
- They spend time with God their Creator. They pray, read, meditate, think, and journal
- They review their goals and plans (wealthy people review their goals two to three times daily)
- They get enough sleep
- They spend time with people who inspire them (not necessarily in person but by reading or listening to their materials)
- They exercise
- They avoid time wasters
- They keep the end mind
For example, if the goal is to lose 25lbs, high achievers envision themselves completing this goal before they start. This will give them a better chance to reach it. To begin with, the end in mind is a great way to train the brain to think that success is a done deal. Then the brain can do its part to help stay motivated and reach it in a record time. Another trick is to keep a picture (visual) of what they want to look like and put it on their fridge or vision board.
High achievers don’t live according to what they feel right now
Most likely discouraging and negative thoughts and feelings will come to prevent you from accomplishing what you set yourself to do. But pushing through the resistance and casting down these thoughts, overriding them daily will take you closer to your desired outcome. Let your will be stronger than these passing negative feelings. Forming a new habit takes a whole lot of energy. Just as it takes a whole lot of force and energy for a freight engine to start pulling the cargo cars. However, when it gains momentum it is almost impossible to stop it.
High achievers write a plan and stick to it
High achievers write down strategies. To keep our example of weight loss, let’s say their strategy is to walk 30 minutes a day, incorporate more fruits and vegetables in their diet, and cut down on sugar and fat. They then keep a daily log of what they intake and how many minutes they exercise. They might find an app or join a community for support. Every morning they review and focus on that plan.
-Habakkuk 2:2-3
High achievers celebrate each accomplishment
Neuroscience studies have shown that people who celebrate after each accomplishment are more likely to repeat that same behavior which is vital in new habit formation. By celebration I mean tell yourself, “Well done! Way to go!” Tell a friend you did it again! Celebrating will help in remaining consistent and faithful to the plan.
High achievers keep a journal and practice gratefulness
High achievers spend time journaling to evaluate their day. How did it go? What worked or what didn’t? They reconcile with the wrongs and rejoice over the good. They write down a few things they are grateful and thankful for. Journaling gratitude carries benefits. Such as self-awareness, stress relief, clarity on what you really want in life, focus on what matters the most, new perspective of what is important to you and what you truly appreciate.
–A.W.Tozer
After sharing some of the secrets and habits of high achievers, I hope you have a strong desire to start taking charge of some areas of your life and form new and lasting habits. Remember the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.
What will you do differently in 2022? How can you shift your focus for a clearer vision?
Dare to dream again! The Lord will always do above and beyond all that you ASK or THINK.
-Ephesians 3:20-21
-Matthew 7:7-8
-Jeremiah 3:33
So, to help you in your venture to create a better year, I have a gift for you. A tool to help assess your current reality and where you want to be a year from now. Only free for a limited time. If you already downloaded it in the past I encourage you to revisit it.
Download your Free Tool: Life Assessment with Action Plan ←click here. If you need help I am here for you. Don’t hesitate to contact me.
I wish you and your family a Happy New Year! May 2022 be a flourishing, successful, healthy year, filled with great surprises and blessings. Keep on shining! ✨