SPAM - A surprising way to achieve your goals

Tired of making New Year's Resolutions (or the like), then giving up after you blow it (in 3 hours, 3 days, 3 weeks?)

I've been there -- done that. I've said, I'm going to lose weight, quit eating sweets, exercise regularly, etc. etc. etc, a lot of familiar ones, all to wind up with the same result -- I'd give up and say "I obviously can't do this!"

Then I decided to try something one of my grad school professors taught us: Use SPAM. So get out a can of SPAM, put it on the counter, but don't open it. Use it as follows to set a new goal or change in your life:

S = Small and specific (daily or weekly)

P = Practical (who, what, where, when how)

A = Achieveable (is it realistic knowing you the way you do?)

M = Measurable (Progress you can measure)

Here's an example: Years ago, when the dentist told me I had to floss my teeth every day for the rest of my life (or risk losing my teeth) I really wanted to do that. Alas! I knew my tendency to get enthusiastic about something, then stop after a while.

Now flossing doesn't sound like such a big deal, but to me that statement, "every day for the rest of your life" sounded like a jail term! Knowing me, I needed to try something very different -- SPAM to the rescue!

S = Small & specific - I'd treat this like a job - floss on weekdays, brush on weekends.

P = Practical - Who? Me

What? Flossing

When? In the mornings (I'm a morning person, not a nighty)

Where? Bathroom

How? I could do my devotions & floss at the same time

(2 for 1 - my desire for efficiency was met!)

A = Achievable I think so

M = Measurable Try it for a week or so; I could always do 3 times a

week at first.

Results? I've been flossing my teeth regularly every weekday morning for many, many years and I still have 'em! My SPAM goal worked!

You can try it too.