Willie Horton's Personal Development Ezine

2012 is around the corner. Another New Year - and one that, no doubt, many will consider to be an opportunity for another fresh start (the fact that you have opportunities for fresh starts each and every day mustn't be forgotten, of course).

Around this time each year, many people frame New Year's Resolutions. Within approximately six weeks from now, most of those people will have discarded the new behaviours they had so expectantly embraced at the beginning of the year. They will have reverted to type. And, indeed, they may well repeat the whole process year in, year out.

So, with a new year almost upon us, let's keep things simple. Imagine that 2012 is to be your last year on earth. You've twelve months in which to leave a legacy, to make a difference and to spend precious time with those who matter to you.

What are the three key things that you would like to achieve and experience in these coming twelve months? Write them down in simple words that you will fully embrace.

Every evening from here on in ask yourself this simple question: "Is what I've done so far today conducive to my three objectives?" What you do next will depend upon your answer. If you forget every-so-often to ask yourself this question, it doesn't matter, you can do so when you remember. The key thing is that we have to keep reminding ourselves of what's important because we are hard-wired to revert to type.