According to a study done by the University of Scranton, only 8% of people will achieve their New Year’s resolutions. This does not mean that you should not even bother setting a New Year resolution. A survey done by YouGov showed that 35% managed to stick to their goals and 50% managed to keep some of their resolutions. Starting a new year is a great time for self-reflection and calibration. The act of reflection and intention setting is a powerful tool for selfimprovement. Being honest with yourself about your current condition and the distance to your preferred situation is key to improvement. When you’re moving forward with clear direction, you make a positive contribution to your emotional and mental health.
“If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
A lot of goals fail because they are not selected for the right reasons. A goal or resolution may be wrong for one of the three main reasons:
- It’s a resolution created based on what someone else is telling you to change.
- It’s too vague.
- You don’t have a realistic plan for achieving your resolution.
Whether you’re creating a New Year resolution, or setting any type of goal, it is critical that we understand why we’ve chosen that goal: Make sure it’s something you’re doing for yourself, that it is clearly defined, and you have a plan to achieve it. The next challenge comes in trying to keep committed to your goals:
“Done is better than perfect”
SHERYL SANDBERG
Seek Support from Others:
Ask your friends and family to cheer you on. Let them know your goals and what you would like to accomplish. Find a community to join; if your resolution starts in the new year, you’ll have plenty of company in trying to make a life change.
Create a Reward System for Yourself:
Setting short-term, achievable goals is the key to success here. Make sure you set rewards yourself for meeting them to keep yourself motivated and on track.
Have Compassion for Yourself:
No one is perfect. Instead of beating yourself up, take a deep breath and keep trying. If you miss your goal, you didn’t fail. Your effort and progress to that goal is the success and should be celebrated.
