Why Resolutions Don’t Work

Happy New Year! I hope you’re kicking off the new year in good health and spirits.

Have you already made resolutions? I used to be the queen of resolutions. I’d make them every January 1st. I’d write them down, share with friends—and then neatly tuck them away. I had one for each major category: finances, health, work, family/friends, travel and love. The problem is that I rarely made any headway and all of a sudden the holidays arrived. I didn’t even take stock of progress because it was so little and felt too late—so I would make the same resolutions AGAIN. The act of making resolutions was like that waking up scene in Groundhog Day.

Recently, I changed direction and it’s proven to be wholly effective. It’s as simple and challenging as setting goals. Simple because we all understand how to set goals, but difficult because change (a new way to approach them) requires discipline.

Here are the steps to realizing your goals:

• Make goals as specific as possible WITH deadlines. For example, I want to lose 10 lbs by the Feb 28. I want to start a new job that I love by Mar 25. Limit your goals to a handful—the ones that are most important to you.
• Write them down and read them EVERY day—ideally 2x in the morning and at bedtime. Extra credit: say them aloud.
• Make a vision board that captures the outcomes and the feeling you’ll have when you achieve them. It can also include the happy side effects (e.g., a trip to a tropical destination once you pay off your credit card).
• Share them with someone who you know will be a positive, steadfast supporter—and will have good ideas to make your goal or approach better.
• Write a letter to yourself. Write that you’ve already achieved these goals, how thankful you are and any how you feel about your successes. Read this on a daily basis and hold the joyful feeling you have throughout this process.

It’s important to eliminate negative or fear-based thoughts in your mind. Your belief that you’ll reach these goals will lead to achievement. Your discipline of doing these steps will reinforce your beliefs.  Henry Ford said it best, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't—you're right.”

Is one of your goals a new job—and not just any job, but one that you love? Let us know if you need help achieving your goal. Watch our video to see how we help people find and land their dream jobs.

Let’s make this year full of amazing events and outcomes! Here’s to a fabulous 2019!