Most people make resolutions each year on January 1st. Here are a few of the health goals that my patients shared on the white board in one of our treatment rooms years ago:
Admirable list! Here’s the challenge, if success is measured by achieving them then resolutions too often don’t work. Worse, we feel a sense of failure and even shame as if it’s a character flaw.
So what to do? Simple, don’t make goals or resolutions. Instead, make promises.
If you make a promise the odds are much greater that you’ll do it. If you break a resolution or don’t make a goal, you’ll feel disappointed. If you break a promise, it hurts. Why? It’s just the way we human beings are built (most of us anyway). Your word is your bond, even to yourself. Even more to someone else.
For example, which statement has more impact:
“My goal is to lose 10 pounds by March 1st.”
“I promise to lose 10 pounds by March 1st.”
“I promise to lose 10 pounds by March 1st.”
Keeping promises also gives you a feeling of pride and honor. Who among us doesn’t want to be known as, “Someone of their word”, or “A stand up person”? And, if you need help or support, who wouldn’t want to help someone keep their word?
If your are a patient or friend of mine and you want someone to witness your promise or help keep you accountable, I am more than willing to do so. That, I promise.
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