It’s still January. Do you feel as energized as you did 15 days ago? If your resolutions are feeling more like walking through mud and less like flying toward your goals this blog is for you.
Did you know that resolutions set us up for failure? Research shows that while 45 percent of Americans make resolutions, only eight percent actually succeeds in keeping them. It’s true- determining you will do one thing- lose weight, read more, talk less, can be vague and ominous, not to mention counterproductive when we beat ourselves up for not sticking to it.
Studies show the reason most of us fail to stick to our New Year’s resolutions has nothing to do with our strength of character or our willpower. Did you hear that? Science says you are not a failure!
So whether it is a new life goal, a job, or a relationship you want to stay committed to; here are some tips for staying committed to the goals you have set for yourself.
Set an intention: Establish a THEME: This is the year of ________. Dilligence, Friendship, Prosperity, Health. As long as it is positive whatever you choose to fill in the blank with will serve you well. Setting an intention works like a mission statement for a company. It guides every action or decision that is made. So instead of living under a “workout harder,” “don’t eat junk” or “don’t yell” mentality, an intention will keep you focused on the overarching goal: health, love, prosperity. This is action based instead of limitation based. It is more effective to replace habits that to just stop them.
Accountability: Tell one person a day your intention: spouse, bestie, barista, UBER driver. You don’t have to go into too much detail, but this will help keep it top of mind and keep you open to support.
Give yourself Grace: We cannot predict the future. We will have great days, we will have bad ones, our friend will make a batch of cookies and really want us to try them or a job may change. A large part of staying committed comes with being realistic. If you make a decision that is not fully in line with your intention, remind yourself of the overarching goal. As long as the majority of your decisions are in support of your goal, success is on the horizon.
An intention will also keep you balanced. Having a ‘cheat’ meal can actually help weight loss, rest actually makes you stronger after a workout, alone time is vital for good relationships to thrive. Do you see my point? An intention allows for you to live within your goals, while still achieving them. So give yourself a break, and start living with intention. You will reach your goals faster than you think.