Or…..
Getting back on track with your new
year’s resolutions
I was ambitious this year. I
bit off WAY more than I could chew on resolutions this year. But I had a
plan, I had a note book, I had pretty printables, I had plans to take over the
world. (Hold on there Pinky.) Well I did.
And then we started remodeling the
kitchen.
And that budget, and losing 10
pounds, and getting on top of emergency preparedness, and reading 100 books,
and making all those healthy home cooked meals went right out the window.
Cleaning plans got buried as everything that was in my kitchen went
elsewhere. So much for that right?
As it turns out I am not off the
hook so easily. There is actually a lot to be gained from those “old”
resolutions. Here are four reasons I need to recommit right now.
1-Studies show that highly
successful people are people don’t give up on goals over failures
lapses. They label them as lapses and keep going. It turns out that
perseverance is worth far more in life that perfection. (Who knew?)
2-Trying new things is really good
for your brain. It forces the brain to build new pathways and is a
natural releases of all those happy brain chemicals. OUR BRAINS LOVE NEW
CHALLENGES AND EXPERIENCES. But even though I have lapsed on those goals
in the pursuit of a kitchen from this century those old pathways are still
there, making it easier for me to make progress by recommitting today.
3-The best way to be successful in a
goal is to reflect of what worked or for that matter didn’t on the last go
around. I know that using trackers works, especially if you think they
are “pretty” and you enjoy using them works well for me. I also know that
I should have picked my timing better. Just because it was the New Year
and millions of other people were choosing now to embark on a new challenge
does not mean it was the right time for me to do so.
4-Recognizing that you have blown it
is progress- Ok so this one is a little out there, but in the process of
learning a new habit you need to be aware of when things are not working.
These key moments ESPECIALLY if you have them WHILE you are blowing it are an
important part of making change. A vital step that says the wiring in
your brain is actually changing in the way that you want. Now there are
two tricks for this one to actually work. First- Is to keep pushing
through this stage and coming out the other side. And Second- Do not beat
yourself up for having “blown it” (this one is a very mindful approach to
change) When you hit a road block take note that you are not on the path that
you desire, reflect on the things that got you off the path. Don’t beat your self up and dwell on the lack
of success setback. Instead be aware, adjust m and begin progressing once
more in the direction you had intended. Ask yourself “what can I learn from
this for next time”
With this in mind I am recommitting
to my New Year’s resolutions twenty or so days later. With a still unfinished kitchen, a deeper
appreciation for a working dishwasher, and a stronger sense of where I want to
go.
The research for this post was taken from "This Year I Will....How To Finally Change A Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True," by M.J. Ryan
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