New Year’s Resolutions
New Year’s Resolutions
For one reason or another, the New Year is a catalyst for change. However, very few New Year’s resolutions are met successfully. More than a third of resolutions don’t make it past January and over three quarters are abandoned soon after. Why is this?
The first reason is a lack of personal investment. Resolutions are typically based on what you think you should be doing, rather than what you really want to be doing. Not only are these resolutions made with very little personal investment; but also, they are made with a negative mindset. As far as our industry goes, the number one resolution is weight loss. Who are YOU trying to lose weight for?
Consider the following: Your friend has been packing on the pounds and suggests that the two of you set resolutions to lose weight in the coming year. She’s been beating herself up over her weight gain more and more and you want to see her happy. And who couldn’t stand to lose a few pounds, Right? You hop on board her plan and give her your steadfast support.
What is wrong with this scenario?
Unfortunately, resolutions are typically made under the wrong pretenses—made for someone else and not for yourself. Forget about what you or other people think you should do and determine what you want to do. If you’re not invested, you will end up regretting any effort you’ve put into achieving the resolution. What happens when your friend is no longer committed to it? Without personal investment, you will abandon your efforts as well. This is a resolution destined for failure.
Once the euphoria of “a new you for a new year” wears off, what do you have motivating you? You need intrinsic motivation—the kind of motivating power that comes from within. You need to define what’s important to you and you alone.
Further, resolutions need to be made with a positive nature. As with our scenario, resolutions are too often the result of negative thinking, for example “I’m fat.” People who have been successful at losing weight are often motivated by a dream of something bigger than just losing weight, for example: being healthy and living a healthy lifestyle. Being healthy is the dream, the optimal outcome and reward. Improving health is a process that will make your dream a reality. So, take it step by step. And, don’t beat yourself up.
People who have been successful have been motivated from a positive nature. They also have the confidence and motivating power necessary for goal attainment. Resolutions are often made to stop or lose something—giving the resolution negative meaning. Use the words gain or start instead of stop and lose. Make it something you want to run towards rather than away from.
