Many of us make New Year’s resolutions:
- I’ll lose 20 pounds
- I’ll start exercising again
- I’ll take some classes and up-level my résumé
- I’ll start dating again
And many of us have forgotten those resolutions within a few weeks.
The trouble is two-fold. First of all, we have the inertia of our existing lives to deal with. How would an exercise program fit into my existing life? How would I start dieting, when I have to cook for the rest of the family? How can I fit classes into an already full schedule? How and where can I start the process of dating when it sounds so brutal?
Our lives are resistant to change. To make a resolution that really creates change, we have to be willing to let go of our old selves. We have to let go of old patterns and habits in order to make room for new things.
And then there’s the commitment level. The old joke says that the Pig and the Chicken decided to open a breakfast restaurant together called “Ham and Eggs.” They had things all set up but the restaurant never opened. The Chicken was willing to give what she could, but the pig wasn’t up to the commitment.
Your success at keeping to a resolution will be a reflection of your level of commitment.
My Mother finally was able to quit smoking—after she had a hospital stay with coronary disease. She found a reason for a real commitment.
The key to making successful changes (commitments) this year is based on your plan. The plan should answer two key questions:
- How do I fit the newness in? Can I purposefully schedule trips to the gym or create healthy menus that are easy to fix? Can I get a mentor to help me with dating or building a realistic budget? Can I make a plan to exercise with a friend to make it more fun? As I build a plan, my old life will shift to make room for it.
- How motivated am I? Is this a “nice to have” thing, or do I see my future life depending on it? Through journaling or a benefit analysis can I create a heightened sense of importance? Can I “raise the stakes” by committing with a friend or partner? By keeping my commitment high and present in my mind I know that my resolution will succeed!
With these concepts in mind, I know that you will have a year of positive change ahead! 2015 will be the year of kept resolutions!
Happy New Year, everyone!