Ready to write down those resolutions? You might want to rethink your approach… founder and director of Awakened Lifestyles, Anthony Noud, explains
It’s that time of year again. Weight loss and health goals, grand plans for financial success, and firm commitments to “making this year my year” are being thrown around everywhere. It is the period of the New Year’s resolution.
Let me be crystal clear: New Year’s resolutions truly suck. This isn’t opinion, but fact. Statistically, 92 per cent of people will fail to achieve their resolution altogether, and of those, 75 per cent won’t get past the 30-day mark with their new endeavour. While I actually agree that the turn of the new year is a very opportune time to turn over a new leaf and reset some personal goals, if actually reaching them is important to you, it might be time to re-think the resolution.
The steps to a resolution that actually lasts:
Consider your WHY
Before pulling out the same 10kg weight loss goal you set last year, stop and consider why exactly this is important to you. What will reaching this goal actually do for you? How will it make you feel? What will I do more of/have more of/experience more of once accomplished? Hint: when you go deep enough on this question you will reach a feeling. Typically, something like, “I’ll be happy and content.” This is important as this is what you are truly seeking. For example, having abs for abs’ sake is kinda weird — they’re strange bumps on your stomach — it’s the feeling you’ll have when you get the abs that make it worthwhile.
Before asking how, ask who!
This is critical. Most of us are taught to focus on how to achieve the goal (such as, “I’m going to start exercising again”), without ever considering WHO they need to be in order to execute the how. Ask yourself what type of person do I need to be in order to reach this goal? Using language like this will elicit your values and form a solid foundation to build this new version of you upon. For example, “I need to be committed, disciplined and willing to sacrifice short term pleasure in the form of food and couch time.” This is important because when you are faced with the temptation to eat out or skip a session (which will come!) you can connect with these values and BE the person who makes the right choice for you.
Do what you said you were going to do!
This is so simple that most people miss it. There is no magic, there is no real secret. If the 92 per cent of people who are going to fail, simply just turned up and did exactly what they said they were going to do, then every single one of them would reach their goals. Most people know how to achieve their goals, they just don’t follow through. The point is: it doesn’t matter if you’re tired, it’s raining, there’s something good on Netflix, or your friend is twisting your arm, if you just do what you said you would do when you first set the goal you will be amazed at just how far you go.
Ask yourself ONE questions only
When faced with a temptation or a roadblock stop and ask yourself this questions: “what would the best version of me do?” Whatever the answer is deep down in your heart, do that! Again, this is simple but incredibly effective.
Realise that it’s not supposed to be easy
Many of us set goals expecting great results and then get discouraged when things don’t go as planned. Newsflash — they were never going to go as planned! If it was supposed to be easy, then you’d have already done it and wouldn’t have to have set a goal in the first place… Make peace with this. Accept that it’s really going to take something, and so it should. If the easy and painless way was ever going to work it would have by now, right?
You know deep down that this is important to you. That’s why you set it. There is a part of you inside that knows you are destined for more. In order to make this goal a reality you will need to welcome and connect with this part of you and honour yourself enough to be the person you know you can be. In truth, this is one of the most self-loving things one can do.
Awakened Lifestyles
We work with high-functioning humans who are stuck in their head and chasing external success yet feel empty inside, helping them to face their inner fears and become happy, and content, every single day. For more, follow Anthony on Instagram, @anthonyinnerwork.
