DO NOT make a New Year's Resolution

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Christian Bossert - cbossert

For most people, New Year’s resolutions simply do not work. The follow-through with a New Year's resolution is nearly as predictable as snow in Florida. HIGHLY unlikely. Let’s talk about the famous 1960s-1970s Stanford “Marshmallow Study.” In this study they brought in 4-6 year old children and presented them with an Oreo cookie, a marshmallow, and a pretzel. The children were told that they would receive a second treat if they waited 15 minutes. Some children immediately ate their treat, while others patiently waited the 15 minutes in order to receive two treats instead of one. The researchers then followed up with the participants during the 1980s. What they found was amazing. The children who delayed gratification during the Marshmallow Study were more likely to be fulfilled in their life, career, relationships in their adult lives.

What does this tell us? Quick easy results may not give us what we're looking for. One of the best decisions one can make is to not make New Year’s resolutions, but to make goals instead. Multiple goals. Physical, professional, relationship, and personal bucket list goals. Where is somewhere you have always wanted to visit? Is there someone, a friend or family member, that you wish you talked to more? Are you satisfied with where you currently are in your career? Set big goals. Losing weight is not a good goal. It’s not. Wanting to lose weight just for the sake of losing weight isn’t going to do anything for you. What is the reason behind losing weight? Is it to look good in a bathing suit? Why the heck is that important? Who doesn’t want to look good in a bathing suit. This is a good start, but not sufficient to implement the will power necessary when times are rough in February. When life is crazy and it seems like you don’t have time for anything, your relationship, bucket list, spiritual and professional goals will carry you towards making decisions that reflect where you want to be in six months.  

Researchers have looked at success rates of people’s resolutions: The first two weeks usually go along beautifully, but by February people are backsliding. And by the following December most people are back where they started—often even further behind. Why do so many people not keep their resolutions? Are people just weak-willed or lazy?

According to researcher John Norcross and his colleagues, who published their findings in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, approximately 50 percent of the population makes resolutions each New Year. Among the top resolutions are weight loss, exercise, stopping smoking, better money management and debt reduction.

I’m not asking you to write down what you need. An “I need to lose weight” mentality is setting the bar low for yourself. This isn’t about what you need. It’s crazy when we start to realize that we limit ourselves by setting these yearly ‘resolutions’. We always do it. I’m encouraging you to think about what you want. In your wildest craziest dreams, what is it you want. Start every single day with gratitude. Find three things that you are thankful for each day. Then think big. Lean into fear, get out of your comfort zone, and go after what you WANT!