I snuck quietly out of our room to avoid waking Suzi, then watched the sun rise over Maui as I spoke to a radio talk-show host on the mainland.  The topic was New Year’s Resolutions and my book, Beyond Resolutions.

“Before we look beyond resolutions,” I said as we got started, “let me share why resolutions generally fail and give you one big secret to success,”

I quickly explained the three most common reasons resolutions fail – 1.) They’re too ambitious/unrealistic (“I don’t currently exercise but now I’m going to run every day”), 2.) Too generic/un-measurable (“I’m gonna lose weight, be a better husband/wife, etc.”) or 3.) They’re left unwritten/uncommitted to (“I’ll make some big changes without making a big deal about them”).

I then shared the secret to success according to Psychology Today and others is what you might call ‘mini-habits.’  These are small behavioral changes like committing to take the stairs instead of the escalator, paying off your smallest debt or scheduling one date night each month with your spouse – things that are easy to accomplish and create a new pattern and new momentum toward new results.  The key is to SUCCEED with these baby-steps, then expand them as new habits become ingrained.

We then moved beyond the topic of resolutions to the topic of helping people target (and nail) their ultimate ‘Bull’s-eye’ lives of destiny, success and happiness.

“How do we do that?” The radio host asked.

“By harnessing the power of our personal histories, dreams and DNA,” I answered, “through the dynamic process I call Personal Convergence.”

“This process has helped high-impact people throughout history and can help every one of us today,” I explained, “as we ‘connect the dots’ between various parts of our background to gain new (or renewed) vision, direction and impact.”

We discussed a few examples and the host encouraged listeners to buy my book on Amazon/Kindle, before the interview segment ended.

Today as we celebrated the new year at church now back at home I was inspired to look, aim and live even further beyond resolutions.

As we sang worship songs and focused on Jesus and the ultimate transformation he offers every day – turning us from downtrodden and debt-ridden paupers to uplifting and generous princes and princesses – I was stirred by the resolution that NEVER FAILS.

If we resolve simply to believe and receive his gift, his forgiveness, his life and his resurrection power we are changed instantly and forever.

Wow!!  Talk about a fresh start.  With no real effort on our part.  What a way to start the new year – and every day!

Let’s look beyond resolutions to embrace our highest calling in Christ, for our sake and for the sake of the world.

And for the sake of rock-solid simplicity and power, let’s pray:

Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.

Aloha, Happy New Year and God bless you!

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