Today is Ditch New Year Resolutions Day!

Did you know that today, January 17, is designated as Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day? You’re in luck—today you can join 80% of the population who made New Years resolutions—and ditch yours!

According to a recent University of Scranton study, at least 80% of people won’t keep their New Year’s resolutions. In fact, almost half quit by the end of January.

What’s up with that? I think I know. I have an opinion on that.

I read this statement on nationaltoday.com in an article about this DNYR Day: 

“…commitment to make a change in your life and actually stick to it happens only when you have the willpower to do it.”

I’m just going to say it: That’s BS!

If you’re going to try and make any amount of lasting change on the basis of willpower, good luck with that. It won’t work. If that’s what you’re doing then go ahead and ditch your resolutions now. 

This is why most treatment programs, diet plans, and workout regimens simply don’t work. These all have good intentions, but they’re all behavior-based. We all know that changing our actions might work for a little while. Willpower actually has its place. We use it all the time.

But the truth is, you can only hold on to the bar you’ve set for so long. Just try it. How many pull-ups can you do? Just so many.

No one has to make you do what you love doing. You don’t have to be talked into that or encouraged. And because you love doing that thing chances are you’re good at it, or will be.

The bottom line is we get really invested in what we’re passionate about. Even if it’s painful or unpleasant at times, we’ll find a way to do what we love doing. Passion is what makes us all-in. We even get emotional about it. 

And there’s my point. Willpower can only get us so far because it’s like our muscles—it can get tired. That’s why anything that requires white-knuckling your way through can only be done for so long. Willpower is not the answer.

Only things that truly matter to us make us emotional. Emotion-based goals are the ones we stick with until they’re second-nature, automatic. They become what we do without even thinking about them.

I’ve said all that to say this: the things you really want require more than willpower to achieve. They require a hunger and thirst that even pain and discomfort can’t keep you from doing. They are emotion-based goals that make you feel alive. 

It’s what you’re passionate about. 

Lasting change doesn’t come from doing, it comes from feeling. Making a goal based around a behavior is hard. When you base your success on an action it’s easy to let yourself down. 

Consider this: 79% of resolutions are about increased or better personal health. It’s likely you too, want something better for your life. To make a change that will greatly impact who you are moving forward. Why give up on something that will positively change your future?

Don’t.

Much of the work I do with people wanting change involves a vision for what will make them feel most alive. Things they can get excited about.  Turns out these are the things most attainable for us—goals worth setting.

Here’s to the change we want.

Tim

PS—I love being in shape and fit. I like the feeling that comes after a good workout. I like feeling good and healthy. But I don’t necessarily like working out. That’s why I need to get back to the gym with my friend, Nick. He’s my friend and trainer, who pushes me and encourages me enough that I actually want to work out. He makes all the difference.

Without Nick, I suck at working out. I think if I’ll hang in there with him long enough, I’ll get to the point I will do it on my own. It’s not that I don’t want to stay fit, I do. I just need the encouragement and help. Maybe that’s what you need as well. If so, give me a call.

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