Resolutions (Part 3): A picture is worth a thousand words

Sometimes I wonder where those "sayings" come from. Thankfully, I live in the age of Google - where knowledge is sitting at our finger tips (literally).

In this case "A picture is worth a thousand words" is attributed in modern times to Fred Bernard who (while trying to promote image ads instead of the words in 1921) stated that "A look is worth a thousand words". According to the Yale book of quotations "A look is worth a thousand words" is first seen in a New York Times Real Estate advertisement in 1914. Either way, A saying that is almost 100 years old must have some truth to it.

But I digress.

How does this relate to New Year's Resolutions? (Good question!) Instead of purely using the motivation technique of "writing down resolutions" (which, per "Part 2" is better than not writing them down at all) It is surely more beneficial to have a visual image of resolutions. Why is this? (1) How many times are we told to visualize our goals? It never fails that famous athletes talk about  visualizing their success - If you don't believe me, check out this article from College Sports Scholarships (2) It is a constant reminder of the goal.

I was talking to my good friend Kelli. This break we are going to make a "Dream Board" where you cut out pictures of your dreams and goals. This can work for resolutions to. Think about it. If I was going to reach into the freezer for some ice cream, and there is a picture of a Victoria Secret fashion model's abs staring back at me... would I really have that craving for chocolate still? (Okay, slightly bad example... chocolate almost always trumps all... but you get the picture - pun intended)

Find your motivation. Find a picture. Make it happen.

Resolutions (Part 2): Learn one from Santa

In honor of Christmas just ending, we should take one from Santa. Maybe he had the right idea all along.

"Making a list, and checking it twice".

If Santa didn't have a list, he would forget which children were the good ones and which presents everyone wanted. Same thing goes with resolutions.

Lets take an verbal contract. In Business Law in college, we learned that verbal contracts hold just as much weight as written contracts (As long as there is a meeting of the minds, mutual consideration, offer and acceptance, performance or deliver, good faith...) Why then do we have written contracts? Besides the proof, there is also something that makes a written contract and signing your name on a dotted more legit. This year? All my resolutions will be written down. (Yours should be too!)

Oh, the implications of writing down a list of resolutions. Suddenly, it seems more meaningful if the goals are written on a piece of paper or better yet, in a list that can be crossed off. Write down your goals. Post the list somewhere that you have to look everyday. How can you ignore that?