It’s that time of year again. The time when we set our goals for the upcoming year. We’ve heard it like a broken record. “This year is going to be different”, “I’m committed.” Most people have been setting the same resolution year after year, but have yet to reach the goal. The average time people stay committed to their resolution is six to eight weeks.
So what’s going on that we just can’t seem to reach our goals? I want you to take a step back and re-evaluate who, what, when and why your resolutions came to be.
-Who wants you to reach the goal? Is it you or the expectations of others for you? If you’re not committed, then most likely it won’t be successful.
-What set the resolution into play? Was there a situation or an event that occurred that set this into motion?
-When did you decide you wanted to change this quality or aspect of your life? Have you been sitting on it for a while or a recent thought?
-Why is it important for you to achieve this resolution? What type of outcome do you want to see?
Asking yourself these questions will give you better perspective on how likely you are to achieve your resolution.
If you realize you set the bar too high on your resolution, you can scale back and break it down step by step and set a timeline for each step.
For those of you who are setting the same resolutions year after year, try taking a look at how you can change your course because repeating the same steps aren’t working. There also can be a barrier that needs to be addressed first.
(Example: The two most common resolutions that have been set by people for years is weight loss and to quit smoking. Both can be difficult and frustrating to achieve. What can make it even more difficult is if there’s added stress in the home or work. That additional stress can get people to succumb to their greatest weaknesses, which in this case would be food and cigarettes. If the stress isn’t addressed, the chances of the resolution being successful will be minimal. You will also have to identify a positive coping mechanism to replace the unwanted one with.)
Most importantly, if your initial approach doesn’t work, re-assess and think about what you need to do differently. It’s about trial and error when we’re problem solving. You don’t have to wait an entire year to restart something that’s already underway.
