Happy New Year!!!!
Out with the old and in with the new. Everything changes, sometimes by itself and sometimes because we purpose it or cause it. Every minute that goes by is change. Some things have changed just in the time that it took for me to type this far. One sure thing is change.
Many of us resist change even though there are times we long for it to happen and yet we casually address it. I know I’m living unhealthy, I need to lose some extra weight, my marriage needs counseling, I need to improve my job skills, my temper is out of control and…you fill in the blank.
We hate the results that we have from whatever it is, but we love whatever it is too much to say no. Sometimes we decide we need to say no but once we’re face to face with it again we quickly say yes. There never seems to be the right time or energy to accomplish the change.
And then the New Year comes along. Our big chance to make a change without standing out, with no need for heavy explanations. Everyone is expected to come up with a change of some sort and if you don’t you’re weird. And so, we jump in ready or not.
Research conducted by Strava, the social network for athletes, has discovered that Saturday, January 12 is the fateful day of New Year’s resolutions. Before the first month of the year has even come to an end, most people have given up on their annual commitment to themselves.
According to a study conducted by the University of Scranton, just 8 per cent of people achieve their New Year’s goals, while around 80 per cent fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions, says US clinical psychologist Joseph Luciani.
Unrealistic expectations is a big drive in failed resolutions. We need big results quickly to continue to fuel our commitment. We put too much weight on the outcome and little on the process.
If you want to commit to running a 5K race you’re going to need to get up out of the chair, get some running shoes, put them on, walk the path, run the path, time yourself, enter a race and then show up. But, how many of us sign up on January 2 for a race the following weekend and get disappointed when we can’t run the course. (Maybe a little exaggerated but I think you follow)
Remember, the movie “What About Bob”? He needed to take baby steps and so does everyone else. Make your goal the process and watch how it all comes together. Remember the story, “Tortoise and the Hare”? Slow and steady wins the race. How about the old adage, “Don’t bite off more than you can chew”? Oh yeah, and then there’s, “Out with the old and in with the new”.
Give yourself a break this year. Don’t look for instant change but rather look for progress. Time will take care of itself and before you know it you will have changed.
“Progress is Our Most Important Product”…1890 Edison General Electric slogan.