Exercise more.
Stop smoking.
Drink less.
Eat healthy.
Save money.
Spend more time with family.
Every year Americans vow to drop the vice with the tightest hold on their lives. Every year, most people fail.
The reason for failure? Setting the bar too high, not having an effective plan to achieve the resolution and expecting to fail all play a part in preventing people from bettering themselves year by year, dropping one habit at a time.
Therefore, a new way to go about the tradition needs to be established.
I suggest lowering the bar. Why continually set yourself up for disappointment at the beginning of each year? Instead, be realistic and save yourself the inevitable feeling of failure.
Make keeping a resolution simple to boost confidence and create the feeling of accomplishment as you set out to conquer another year.
How about, “I resolve to brush my teeth,” or “I will drinkwater.”
The right resolution is fool-proof and guarantees success.
I suggest taking baby steps. The first year on this program, resolve to do something you absolutely can’t fail at, something a child or intelligent animal does naturally. By doing this, you’re bound to feel great when it’s time to set the next resolution.
Then, you’ll be ready to up the ante.
Resolve to take the trash out when it’s full or drive on the right side of the road only. The second year’s resolution needs to include a task commonly accomplished by most people, but able to be shattered with one swift yank of the steering wheel.
Every year, set your sights just a little higher and positive results are almost guaranteed.
By following the realist’s resolution regimen, within 20 to 25 years a participant can expect to reach a level where quitting smoking or drinking, exercising more or saving money truly can be achieved.
Until then, don’t get ahead of yourself.
