Hurray!!! The much anticipated new year is finally here. There are usually a lot of things spectacular about every new year. One is the fact that it brings with it so much hope and anticipation that things can be better, done in a different way and greater things can be achieved that were previously not possible. Secondly is the fact that new goals can be set and previously "unachieved" goals can be reviewed and examined, ex-raying what worked and what did not work. After all, it is a popular saying that “only a fool will do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result”. I am sure you do not want to be that fool in the new year. Finally, the new year comes with new resolutions, new resolves and a renewed determination to excel and be the best. But psychologists have told us that less than 10% of New Year's resolutions are actually achieved (University of Scranton Psychology Professor John C. Norcross, Ph.D.).

The reason for this failure is that their timing is sometimes wrong. For instance, why wait for the new year to quit smoking for example, when it could have been done in the previous year. Also, most new year resolutions fail because they are all about what you think you should do. The moment most people find out that they are unable to do those things, they put aside the resolution and simply continue with their daily lives. Even the sense of failing at keeping with the new year resolution may bring some form of condemnation to your heart which is not totally healthy to the individual involved. This is why resolution is not usually the best for some people.

So, how best can one make the new year count?

Start by putting aside your past successes and failures, including the past glories. Never carry along the year you are coming from, either physically or mentally, into the new year. Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-14 that he does not rely on old glory and past achievements, no matter how glorious and beautiful they were. So, begin the new year on a fresh note. Let God carry you by Himself into the year on the wings of the Holy Ghost. The tool that can facilitate this is constant communion with God through fellowship. Make it a priority that no day goes by without you staying in touch with the maker of Heavens and earth that has given you the privilege to see the new year. One thing that fellowship does is that it endears God towards you. James 4:8a says “Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh you too”. As you make it a conscious effort to stay in touch with God in this new year, I can assure you your life would not remain the same.

Apart from the above, endeavor to keep the right association. The scriptures say in Proverbs 13:20 that “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed”. Perhaps, the reason you did not record so much success in the previous year is simply because of the association you kept. There is even a grave danger in choosing to associate with the wrong people, as documented in the scripture above, destruction is the end product. So, to make this new year count, choose to walk with the right persons- those who share your passions, dreams and aspirations with you. Keeping the right association keeps you in check, it gives direction to your journey in life and you can be rest assured of a safe landing in destiny. The company you keep you can make or mar you. In a nutshell, move with the right people in this new year.

Lastly, write out all the things you want to accomplish in the new year. This greatly worked for me in the past year and I want to also recommend it for you. A well written and articulated set goals always keep you on the move, until it is accomplished. No wonder the Lord instructed prophet Joel to write the vision down, and make it plain upon tables, so that whosoever that reads it may run with it. Do you have great plans for the new year; put them down in black and white. Even scientist has also proven that goals that are written down has a much higher possibility of being accomplished than those ones that are not written down. Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University in California, did a study on goal-setting and she found that an individual is 42 percent more likely to achieve his or her goals just by writing them down. Writing down your goals removes vagueness, gives you a sense of purpose and keeps your focus intact.

Napolean Hill said this, “There is one quality which each and every one must possess to win, and that is certainty of purpose.”Make your new year count be simply putting all the above mentioned points into practice and then watch your life make tremendous progress. From all of us at Fridayposts.com, we wish you a prosperous new year.