Right now we are nearing the end of our holiday season. Thanksgiving came and went and now Christmas is just two weeks away and all I have been able to think about over the course of the last two weeks has been “Groundhog Day”.

Not really in reference to the actual Groundhog day holiday but more in regards to the movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray.  Story line is kinda vague to me right now because its been a while since I have seen it.  The memory of it that sticks with me is the main characters unfortunate predicament of living what he deems as his worst day of his life over and over and over again.

When watching the movie the concept seems kinda funny in a, oh man that would suck ha ha, kind of way but in real life it would just - suck.

Its often been said that “History repeats itself”. Of course it doesn’t exactly, but I do often think about that saying when contemplating my future.

I know that if I do nothing different, change nothing about what I’m doing, what I’m reading, what I’m saying or how I’m behaving nine times out of ten I’ll get the same result as I always have.  And if the result I’m getting is good then I need to continue doing whatever it is that works but if I’m not happy with a specific result, I know I need to do something different in order for it to change.

In less than a month a New Year will be upon us and although I know I take the coming of a new year very serious and with much thought I can’t help but wonder what other people are thinking about? Maybe this year was great for you? So you’ll spend this next year trying to duplicate or maintain that - right? Maybe this last year left you with more to be desired? What will you do differently in this next year to get you a different result? Have you thought about it? Do you have a plan? Is it a new plan or has it been tested?

Don’t get me wrong I’m not just talking about dreams and goals stuff. I’m not simply suggesting that you make a list of your goals and develop a plan of attaining them as your New Year resolution. Although there is nothing wrong with that. People do that every year :). But have you stopped to consider….how you got to be where it is you’re at? How you got to be in the job that you’re in? The relationship you’re in? The financial situation your in? The weight your at? The “routine” your in? Etc.? The decisions, attitudes, thought processes or circumstances that got you…where ever it is that you are at? Have you - R E A L L Y?

See I think that having a New Years resolution, creating a “fresh start” type of thing IS good….but not if your gonna treat the “new plan” the same way you did the “old plan”. Know what I mean? Does that make sense? How many times are you gonna change the plan until you figure out its NOT the plan that is the problem? The problem may be with the person that’s working the plan. And I’m not necessarily saying YOU have a problem or that your “plan” isn’t working. I’m just saying maybe…MAYBE if you find yourself in a “Groundhog Day” situation and history keeps repeating itself in your life, maybe you should think less about the “new plan” and more about - how you worked the “old plan” and what you need to do to get a different result.

Generally, when people are struggling with their finances they tend to look for a new better paying job. Maybe its not that you need a new job. Maybe you need to look at another way of making money or work to become a better money manager?

How many times have you seen someone who has recently gotten a divorce or just gone through a break-up only to end up with a similar person that they just left? Fate? Coincidence? No. Of course not. So afraid of ending up alone they make decisions based on fear and then get upset when it gives them a bad result. They may have changed the name or the face of the person they were with but because they haven’t recognized what it was that got them into the prior bad relationship to begin with they are destine to repeat a similar result with someone new. And the cycle goes on and on. Some never realize or consider their role in the process.

I’ve seen people who are totally buried in volunteerism, every weekend is booked, every evening is filled with functions and meetings, they complain about having no time or about their lack of taking a vacation yet they keep volunteering! Hello?! They simply can’t say no. So day in and day out they go about their same routine and before they know it - years have past.

Don’t you just LOVE the new diet programs they come out with every year? The “new and improved” way to weight loss? Thousands of people jump to them in hopes of getting the “plan” that works. Because the last 10 “plans” they tried didn’t work? No! Generally, its the person that was doing the plan that didn’t work.

Ever seen the “moms” and “dads” that are so stuck in their daily routine that every day is the same as the day prior and the next day is the same as today? Every once in a while they mix it up with a ball game, a movie or dinner out….if they’re “lucky”??

Is it the circumstances in your life?….or is it - you?

Are you living a “Groundhog Day” life?

Change it.

Whatever the case may be, don’t allow another day, week, month or year of your life become a “Groundhog Day”! Find out why the things in your life are the way they are and actively work to change them. Pursue it - daily. You may not need to come up with a “new plan” or make a New Years resolution. You may just need to fine tune or change how your currently working the plan you got! How your thinking about it, how your perceiving it or how your behaving to it to get better results. Make sense?

Consider why you are where you currently are in your life….then write your goals for this next year and follow them to the letter. Ultimately, if this advice doesn’t work out for you, no worries!

There’s always next year!