Living your resolutions by turning hope into action #148
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Resolutions need a plan. You can become who you want to be with a plan, discipline and accountability. Be your best, others deserve it.
Living your resolutions by turning hope into action #148
Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News edition, Sunday January 11, 2026
Every January, we’re flooded with talk of resolutions — grand plans to eat better, exercise more, learn new skills, or finally tackle that big career move. But here’s the truth: writing down a resolution isn’t enough.
Hope is not a strategy. If we want real change, we need more than good intentions — we need a plan, discipline, and accountability.
Most resolutions fail because they’re built on wishful thinking. It’s like buying a lottery ticket and expecting financial freedom. The desire is there, but the roadmap is missing. Success doesn’t come from hope alone; it comes from consistent action.
Think about it: when you set a resolution, you’re essentially saying, “I want to be better.” That’s a great start, but without structure, life’s distractions will pull you off course. The key is to turn those hopes into habits — and habits require time, focus, and repetition.
One approach that works: break your year into 90-day segments. Why 90 days? It’s long enough to make meaningful progress but short enough to stay motivated. A 90-day plan gives you a clear timeline for action and helps you build momentum.
Here’s how it works:
Set SMART goals for the next 90 days. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.
Avoid vague resolutions like get healthy. Instead, define measurable actions: Walk 30 minutes five times a week or complete one online course in using AI this month.
Refresh your plan every quarter. Life changes, and so should your goals. Resetting every 90 days keeps your strategy relevant and your motivation high.
Track your progress. Whether it’s a journal, an app, or a simple checklist, monitoring your actions reinforces accountability.
Think holistically; you are a sum of the parts.
Resolutions often fail because we focus on one area—like fitness—while ignoring others that impact success. A holistic approach works better. Consider these four quadrants:
House, home, and community: Your environment matters. A cluttered space can drain energy and focus. Having a safe and secure home, makes it easier to focus on the important goals you desire. Making a difference in the community is exhilarating and satisfying.
Friends and Family: Relationships provide support and accountability. Surround yourself with people who encourage growth. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Consider which relationships help you stay on plan to achieve your plans.
Work and Study: Career and learning goals keep you moving forward professionally while stimulating other life interests. Don’t forget to give back, teach or mentor another.
Health and Wellbeing: Physical and mental health fuel everything else. Healthy habits keep your stamina up while easing stress.
When you grow in all four areas, you create balance — and balance sustains progress.
Mentorship and accountability are powerful and necessary for success.
Even the best plan can falter without accountability. That’s where mentors, coaches, and supportive peers come in. They help you stay honest when you’re tempted to slack off. A quick check-in can prevent one missed day from turning into a week — or a month — of lost progress.
Programs like Café con Leche’s Road to College in Wichita Falls understand this well. They ask students three simple but powerful questions:
Who are we?
Where are we going?
How are we getting there?
The answers — Road to College, to College, together — remind students that success is a shared journey. Mentorship, family support, and community make the difference between dreaming and doing. Since 2013, this program has helped hundreds of first-generation students prepare for and graduate from college. Today, it serves 220 families, proving that structured support works.
Dream. Plan. Work the Plan.
Resolutions aren’t magic — they’re commitments.
A Japanese proverb says, “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.”
The sweet spot is having both: a clear vision and a disciplined plan.
So, as you look at your resolutions:
Do you have a dream?
Do you have a plan?
Are you working that plan?
If not, start today. Break your goals into 90-day chunks. Focus on all areas of life. Find a mentor or accountability partner. And remember constant learning is essential because the world doesn’t stand still — and neither should you.
Be who you can be. Our community needs you.
Jack Browne is a community activist and former technology executive who believes in the power of connection and service.
Correction to last weeks’ column — The TIF #3 board meeting is this week: 5:30–7:30 p.m. Thursday January 15 at the Martin Luther King Center, 1100 Smith Street. Come make a difference, participate in our community.
This issue is marks my third anniversary of writing this column. Ongoing reader feedback keeps me fueled looking forward to a new topic every week. Let me know what you think — and what you need!!