Have you ever taken a trip with no plan? Or started a project without envisioning your end result?
You end up with results that look something like this.

Or like this.

Making New Year’s Resolutions is one tool to help you stay on the roads that will lead you to your goals.
Here is a roadmap for a business plan, but I thought it applies to our individual goals as well.

Reflection on 2017
My biggest New Year’s Resolution for 2017 was to have a positive attitude no matter what situation came my way. After my son, Jy, had a near-death experience in 2015, I realized there are many things I can’t control, but the one thing I can control is my attitude. It has made all the difference.
Big Goal for 2018
I find that if I set a ton of goals, achieving all of them is hard, and I feel like a failure. Therefore, I have changed to focusing on one big goal for the year and using the big goal to help me achieve a couple smaller goals. My big goal for 2018 is FOCUS. I have a lot of ideas and goals, but when I try to complete too many at the same time, I don’t do any of them well. I am going to focus on one goal at a time until I achieve it.

What About You?
Have you found any “tricks” that help you keep your New Year’s resolutions? Do you believe in New Year’s resolutions?
If you decide to try my trick of focusing on one big goal to help you with a couple or a few smaller goals, let me know if it helped.
Last year I read The 1% Solution. The premise of the book is that it’s virtually impossible to be 100% better than your competition, it’s very possible to be 1% better in hundreds of things. I liked this book because when it comes to change, the hill may seem too high to climb, but if you climb it only 1% at a time, it feels doable. We only need to try and change 1% at a time.
Quick Update
I’ve been busy with YA fiction writing and teaching amazing nursing students. I plan to focus on these two things in 2018 until I get a literary agent and published. I hope to check in and blog at least once a month with my blog collaborators. I miss my interaction with many of you, but it will come back after I focus my energy on one goal at a time. ❤️
Have a wonderful day! Thank you for reading!
Collaboration with a Purpose
This blog post is part of a blog collaboration. The theme is New Year’s Resolutions. Please check out these other blogs if you need some inspiration on New Year’s Resolutions!
Here are the collaborators. I quoted the lovely, Nicolle.
- Barb Caffrey @ Barb Caffrey’s Blog (“So, if you believe in any sort of Higher Power, one of the things you need to remember is to forgive yourself once in a while.”)
- Jane Love @ Harmonious Joy (“People who have a genuine say and a true voice of their own… not just an echo of some celebrity they think they love.”)
- Mylene C. Orillo (“Where I’m at right now is a testament that ‘Dreams really do come true.’”)
- Nicolle K @ Stories of a Highly Sensitive Introvert! (“Success, for me, is when I spend my days feeling happy, peaceful, fulfilled and without fear of lack.”)
- Sadaf Siddiqi (“The best thing about memories, is one doesn’t realise they are making memories but once recorded, it just rewinds and takes one back to the beautiful series of life.”)
- Sonyo Estavillo @ ‘Lil Pick Me Up (“I am here to champion anyone from the successful and confident folks, to those that are clinically depressed.”)
Direct links to New Year’s Resolutions Articles stolen 😉 from Jainey.
- Introduction: Alert: A Collaboration for the New Year
- Barb Caffrey: Welcome, 2018! New Year’s Resolutions, Anyone? (A Collaboration with a Purpose Post)
- Ipuna Black: Keep Focus with New Year’s Resolutions
- Nicolle K.: Collaboration with a Purpose: New Year’s Resolution – 2018 Goals
- Sadaf Siddiqi: New Year’s Resolutions
- Mylene Orillo: Why I Still Write My New Year’s Resolutions
- Sonyo Estavillo: Finding Hope: A New Year’s Resolution
Good blog… Thanks..
Sometimes, I take a trip with no plan, and it gives me somethings wonderful.
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That can happen for sure :). I tend to not get enough done with no plan. Ha ha.
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You never fail to amaze me! Your strength and determination has ALWAYS inspired me. Focusing on one goal at a time is very important and makes things easier!! Keep up the great work sweetie!! Sending you LOTS of love and comfort!!!!
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Awe, thank you! I used to have a LONG list of resolutions and feel disappointed when I didn’t complete them. I can complete one resolution for sure. Then, I move on to the next! Happy New Year, Alyssa!
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You are welcome! Taking things one step at a time takes some stress away. It saves us from being disappointed and discouraged! You really are amazing!!!!!!
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Soooooo true! And a positive attitude help you achieve more. You’re the amazing one! I just read your 2017 reflection post. Not many could wake up every day and endure what you endure. Keep inspiring all of us.
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Oh my goodness that was so incredibly sweet! Thank you so much for saying that!! You really did just make my day, no you made my entire week!!!! I am glad that my posts are inspiring, that is my ultimate goal!!
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😄 ❤️
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I’m with Alyssa on this – Your strength and determination have ALWAYS inspired us all, Belle. I also agree that focusing on one goal at a time (i.e. prioritizing) is very important. It makes everything so much easier.
Plus you never cease to give more proof of the ad-daughter-mother relationship we have going on. 😉 😛 I mean, our posts are along similar wavelengths. And although you “stole” my links :-D, you had every right to. Ha ha.
*whispering slightly* when’s she gonna get that I won’t mind one bit? 😀 😛 ;-P ❤
Sending you LOTS of love, Mom!!!!!! ❤ ❤
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Our posts were on similar wavelengths! Ha ha. You crack me up on the m and d relationship. I’m not even saying the words! I’m like 21 in my head.
MOM!!! Ahhhhhh grrrrr
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Thanks for sharing and best wishes for the new year and for your NY resolution of having one big goal. I tend not to make NY resolutions, but have goals that I work towards throughout my life and that tends to work for me. I feel it’s about finding what works for you.
Sometimes not having a plan is also the best plan – it’s good to change things up once in a while and be a little spontaneous!
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Yes! I agree. Finding what works for you is that best plan.
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Useful information here. I shall be putting my strategy together for 2018 with specific end goals in mind. Good reminder to get my projects in order!
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Thank you, Mike!
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Ipuna, your post just gave a new definition to the word, focus. These are some really amazing suggestions. Keep going and I hope you have a great year!!
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Thank you, Sadaf!
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Welcome, Ipuna- the sunshine.
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Hello Ipuna,
I wish you the best in this year.You know, and I’m sure you heard when you see a falling star, you should to imagine a wish, but if you want your wish to come true,you do not need to tell anyone your wish and also about falling star. But in fact, the reason is energy. Energy focused on your wish it should not be spilled around.You need a full energy potential for your wish.
Just like focus in life .If you have a too much things to do, you will spilled a little your energy on each thing!But you need a lot of energy focused on one thing!
Great post
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Ben,
Thank you. You always give the best advice. I’ve never thought about the falling star or energy. I thought you were proclaiming to the universe what you feel has already happened, but that takes energy too. Best to save it for the actual goal at hand I’ve learned from you!
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I love the illustrations Ipuna! Wow, you are one busy person! I really admire how you can do everything from being a woman, mother, writer, to being a teacher! It really amazes me. Keep it up but don’t forget to rest and relax sometimes. You need that. Happy New Year to you and your family. It’s good to know Jy’s doing okay now. I’m praying for his continuous recovery. 🙂
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Thank you, Mylene!
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Good luck on your focus goal ipuna…
Well my trick with new year resolution is “I never set them on a new year, instead my goals are set on March to April period”.. there is a difference.. you can guess it…
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Nice! I like that. 🙂
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Great post, Ipuna! I love how you only have one big goal to stay focused; having squirrel syndrome and being easily distracted myself, I think that’s really awesome. 😀
Good luck with your goals this year!
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Thank you, Nicolle!
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❤️❤️
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Hey there Ipuna! I wanted to let you know that I wrote a post about gratitude and tagged you as a blogger I’m grateful for. I invite you to participate in my gratitude challenge. More details on the post: https://myinstructionmanual.com/2018/01/16/gratitude-mad-libs/
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This is great. I completely agree with you, setting to many goals can deter your path. My strategy is writing down a few goals, and then setting smaller goals every week along the path to achieving the big ones.
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Yes! That’s fantastic as well. Baby steps forward…just keep moving forward. I hope you are well, Candace! Your site looks gorgeous!
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