|
What to do with broken resolutions?
Cut yourself some slack, and get back in
the game.
(The 40 Factor Blog, February 28, 2010)
By now, 80 percent of those who made New Year’s
resolutions have broken them. Actually, they probably gave up or forgot about them by Valentine’s Day, according to University of Minnesota Professor Marti Hope Gonzalez.
Why? Weren’t these resolutions made to bring about positive change? Wasn’t
making a resolution enough to set the wheels of change in motion?
I guess not.
Our challenges with making
sustainable change in our lives is explained well by Marion Kramer Jacobs, author
of “Take-Charge Living: How to Recast Your Role in Life ... One Scene at a Time."
“We’re
hard-wired not to change quickly,” Dr. Jacobs said. “Think of what chaos would ensue if you could snap your finger
and change instantly tomorrow. You would be one person today, someone else tomorrow.” (New York Times, “New Year, New You? Nice Try” by
Alex Williams.)
Just because you already broke your resolution and know the road may be difficult, don’t
give up. The reward will be worth the effort. Give it another shot.
Ten Steps
to Keeping Your Resolution And Making Meaningful Change
Desire Change — Make sure you really want to change and are ready to embark on a serious commitment
to make it happen.
Define Success —
Clarify your goal in specific terms.
Write It Down —
Once you know what you’re shooting for, spell it out. Keep it handy, and refer back to it.
Make Your Plan — It’ll be easier to fulfill your resolution if you establish
a plan with realistic, simple, and specific goals. Only include steps that you know you’re able and willing to carry
out.
Find Support — Depending on your
resolution, you may have an easier time staying on track and reaching your goal with support and encouragement by friends,
family, or a group of others trying to achieve similar results.
Seek Help — Success isn’t less sweet if someone gives you a hand. Seek professional help to
get you going or keep you on track. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, quit smoking, get organized, write a book,
learn something new, get out of debt, spend more time with family, or just about anything else, there are organizations with
the knowledge and expertise to help you succeed.
Keep
Track — Regularly review your journey to success, considering accomplishments and obstacles.
Be Flexible — Don’t get stuck. If your plan isn’t
working for you, figure out what will and modify it.
Celebrate
Your Success — Acknowledge your accomplishments, big and small. Don’t wait till you’ve fulfilled
it all. Celebrate your progress.
Know What’s Next —
Have a plan for what happens — and what you need to do — when you fulfill your resolution and meet your goal.
Figure out how you will maintain your success.
Depending on what you’re looking to accomplish, you
may want to partner with a certified coach to
help you define your goals, create a plan, and stay on track.
Group coaching opportunities are available in many
communities and often less expensive than one-on-one coaching. Check out what’s offered at meetup groups, libraries,
community centers, and colleges.
Don’t give up on your
resolution — and yourself. Change is hard, but you can do it. Take it one step at a time, and keep your eye on
the prize.
|
 |
|
