Shelly Horton: 'I'm making New Year's Eve mottos, not resolutions'

New Year's Resolutions don't work. There, I said it. In fact, I'll go a step further, New Year's Resolutions make you feel bad.

I can't remember how many years in a row my resolution was to "lose 10 kilos in 10 weeks," "never eat chocolate again" or "exercise every single day."

I'd be committed to it for a week, or maybe two, and then like clockwork I'd fall off the wagon with a chocolate smeared face and start using my exercise bike as a clothes rack. And I'd feel dreadful.

If you're anything like me, you don't like failing, and even something like breaking a new year's resolution makes you feel bad? Now when I look back at those statements I see how negative they are and in reality, I was setting myself up to fail.

Those resolutions were not inspiring, fun or motivating. I was just setting unachievable goals for myself. No wonder I never stuck to them.

So, a few years ago I decided to change the narrative. I refused to make a resolution and instead I would choose one word or a motto to define my goals for the year. A friend of mine has been doing this for as long as I can remember. Basically, she picks one word that acts as her guiding light for the year.

Here's how it's worked out for me.

2017: SOAR

Why just fly when you can soar? I left full time employment and started ShellShocked Media a video production and media training business. I want my heart to soar with my husband. I want my spirit to soar with inspiration and adventure. And soar I did! The only problem was when I told people they thought I said "sore" which I guess also summed up what it's like starting your own business.

2018: TWO MINUTES OF COURAGE

You don't have to be courageous all the time but you can be brave if it's just for two minutes at a time. It only takes two minutes of courage to ask for that pay increase, have that uncomfortable conversation, decide to create an online course. That motto forced me to be brave and make the hard decisions quickly. I even said yes when offered the job of co-hosting Talking Married.

2019: VALUE

My two minutes of courage meant 2018 was full of firsts like co-hosting Talking Married, my first international speaking gig for Business Chicks, first time reporting live from the Logies Red Carpet and first time ShellShocked Media had a 25% growth. I feel incredibly proud of those achievements. But the downside to those career highs was only having a five weekends off in the entire year, my first anxiety attack and feeling teary and tired to my bones.

So, in 2019 I made my motto Value. I valued my awesome career opportunities but also valued my health. As always, I pushed myself a little too hard and my health suffered but for once I valued my health and went to a health retreat and had a "fly and flop" holiday in Bali to recharge my batteries.

Each year I feel like I'm learning a bit more about myself.

2020: DON'T WAIT TO BE PICKED

My 2020 motto "Don't wait to be picked" means I'm going to create my own opportunities rather than sit back and be passive.

I have run my own production company so I'll be filming "The Shelly Show" to run online. It's a dream I've had for twenty years and 2020 is a great year to make it come true.

"Don't wait to be picked" has already motivated me to plan ahead and be a self-starter. It's going to be a big year and I can't bloody wait.

So, pick a word or motto that motivates you for 2020. Let me know yours in the comments below.