Each January many of us make a list of new years resolutions we hope to achieve, or in many cases say we’re going to do but never actually do. So why do only a few succeed?
It’s All About Mindset
I believe many of us make goals that are expected of us and aren’t what we truly desire, feeding the belief that we set goals with the wrong mindset.
Addressing the Mindset
The University of Scranton suggests that only 8% of people are successful in achieving their resolution with the #1 resolution being to lose weight.
Every year I would go through the same thing. I would tell myself I’m going to lose weight and my friends would say the same thing, but 3 weeks later we’d be snacking on 2-bite brownies & mini-cinnamon rolls for game night, and don’t forget the cake for my birthday! I rebelled against the restriction, bounced back worse than before making those resolutions, and got depressed for eating all that chocolate. (By the way, I’m lactose intolerant!)
So what has changed? The way I think about goals, what I’ve learned about priorities, and how I approached them.
The Shift
First I decided to re-frame my goal of losing weight. It wasn’t the weight on the scale that mattered, it was getting my energy back, getting rid of the constant bloat, being able to play with my daughter and preventing the numerous diseases that run in my family.
Second, it was important enough to me to start now, not New Years. I knew being active in my family’s life was extremely important to me and looking after myself was the best way to do it.
Lastly, I told myself this was not an option or something I just wished to do; this was something I HAD to do. It was hard to put myself first for a while, but I noticed that when I ate right, the bloat stayed away making me feel comfortable, and when I slept well at the same time, I had energy to play!
Sustainable Action
My goals weren’t set on end results, they were lifestyle changes and focused on the journey. Every day was a new day and every choice I made either took me toward my goal or away from it. With that in mind I opted for what was sustainable.
I listened to what my body was telling me and was surprised when I started to reject certain things I use to love because they weren’t worth it for me anymore.
Steps YOU Can Take
Get clear on your priorities – What’s more important to you? What keeps you going? What drives you intrinsically? (Need help? Check out Chalene Johnson’s 30DayPUSH.com)
Start right now – If it’s important enough to you, don’t wait. It’s not about perfection, it’s about getting started and consistently moving forward.
Shift your mindset – Start thinking about how you want to feel and make that non-negotiable. Focusing on the positive and the ideal will help change your mindset to success.
Celebrate – Being consistent will help establish routine. That routine allows your body to relax and let change happen. Celebrate it sustainably as being mindful of the changes will keep you moving forward.
Keep going – Small steps forward still move you forward. Just keep going even when it feels tough. When you finally make it past the peak of effort, you’ll start to settle into habits and it won’t take so much work to stay on top of things.
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