Ditch Your New Year's Resolutions
In this month’s post:
Why New Year’s resolutions fail;
Value-based goal setting;
Your intrinsic reward system;
Looking at the long-term horizon;
And a bit about gratitude! (obviously!)
So, you made it to February. Did your New Year’s resolutions make it, too?
Did you even set any? Maybe not–because they almost never work!
Did you know that most resolutions fail by the third week of January?
It’s largely due to rigidity. There’s no flexibility because one slip-up means you failed… so why keep trying? Why even try in the first place?
Aside from rigid limitations, most resolutions originate in the desire to move away from negative behaviours vs. moving towards positive outcomes. They’re about what we give up vs. what we gain and are often rooted in external validation.
How can we increase our motivation (and make it sustainable)?
Ditch short-term resolutions and start setting goals that are worthy of your effort.
Throughout my athletic career and over the last decade since my accident, goals have been a massive part of my success. I have a formula for setting goals that features your values, a compelling vision of your future, and long-term time horizons.
Pursue Value-Based Goal Setting:
Goals materialize from an alignment with values rather than validation. They’re not about “losing weight”. They’re about “better health.” If a goal is compelling, it doesn’t matter how long it takes to achieve or how many setbacks you encounter; you’ll keep working toward it.
Have you ever seen this image before?
If you’ve ever succeeded at anything meaningful before, you most likely took the path depicted on the right. The road to success is paved with setbacks, sidesteps, and failures.
My favourite way to frame failure is that a step backward is still a step forward if you never stop moving toward your goal—because you never stop moving toward your goals! It’s just the next step you need to take and an opportunity to fill skill gaps, acquire resources, and level up. I’ve said those words to countless audiences!
High achievers stay focused on ‘the arrowhead.’ They know where they’re going and focus on their goals with laser-like precision. To simplify that task, goal setting must align with your values, not the desire for external validation.
Finding Motivation in Values and Intrinsic Rewards:
While external validation and material achievements can be fulfilling (at first), sustainable motivation springs from intrinsic rewards.
You will find more meaning by identifying and living in alignment with your values. If we aim at our values first, success ensues from a purposeful, values-based intent.
Instead of seeking resolutions like losing weight, giving up a vice, or limiting your spending, consider the internal transformations that occur when working toward a compelling future. Maybe your bank account doesn't reflect the change immediately, but your personal net worth grew because you grew! You’re turning into someone worthy of financial success!
It’s a subtle, yet substantial perspective shift!
Gratitude for intrinsic rewards becomes a powerful motivator, propelling you with purpose and fulfillment. Cultivating appreciation allows you to tap into the inherent satisfaction of personal growth, self-discovery, and the reward of progress. You can recognize the strength and resilience you’ve developed, the wisdom gained, and the character traits enhanced through challenges.
Continuous Alignment over the Long Term:
When pursuing goals, periodically reassess and (if necessary) realign with your vision and values. If you read my last post, you’ll remember that positive reflection, infused with gratitude, is a compass for this purpose.
Take time to revisit your aspirations, acknowledge progress, and recalibrate where needed. If you can, considering your 10-year vision (or beyond) can help you recognize the alignment between your goals and core values. It allows you to discard goals that no longer serve you and embrace those that resonate with your evolving identity.
The most successful humans focus on their long-term time horizon:
Rather than considering what you can achieve this year, consider what you can achieve in ten years. What about in twenty years? By focusing on the vision you want to set for your life, setbacks become more insignificant because the duration increases.
Also, in terms of time, avoid giving up on your dreams because of the time it will take to achieve them or the effort required. The time will pass anyway, so you might as well work towards value-based goals that light you up, give you fulfillment, and satisfy your vision for a meaningful life.
Stay Focused on What You Can Achieve:
As you work toward your 2024 goals, it's crucial to stay focused on what you can achieve, embracing a mindset of abundance and possibility.
Gratitude becomes a force that propels you forward, reminding you of the potential within every moment. It compels you to do your best, not from the basis of performance but from the true realization of the opportunities you've been given in life. Your gifts, which you appreciate, should never be taken for granted.
Thanks for reading! And, thanks for continuing to push toward YOUR compelling future! We’re in this together!
If this resonates, don’t hesitate to reach out or book a call with me!
And grab a copy of Never Part of The Plan if you haven’t already. :)
Gratefully,
Mike Shaw
