Resolutions Don’t Work!
Dear Subscriber,
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Well, here we are. Another New Year has begun. It must be time for New Year’s Resolutions, right?
By a show of hands, how many of you made New Year’s Resolutions last year? Wow, a lot of you. OK, keep your hands up if you kept those resolutions through the month of January. Oh, dear. How about through February? Oh, my. Anyone keep their resolutions all year?
Right. Just as we thought. New Year’s Resolutions don’t work! So we introduce (drum roll, please) New Year’s Goals! Goals, the NEW New Year’s Resolution!
Joy and Success,
The Coaches of Artist’s EDGE – Debra Russell and Wendy Keilin
Please note that Wendy is no longer with Artist’s EDGE
Challenge of the Month
Goals! The NEW New Year’s Resolution
According to studies, less than 30% of New Year’s Resolutions become successful habits (Dale Berry, Self Help Magazine). Why is that?
New Year’s Resolutions are generally about behavior we want to begin or behavior we wish would cease. It usually focuses on something we think is wrong about ourselves. Some behavior we should or should not be doing: stop smoking, start exercising, eat right. Sound familiar?
Our theory is that because it’s about trying to fix yourself in some way, it focuses your attention on the problem. And what you focus on – well – manifests. So as long as you are focused on the problem, that problem is reinforced.
We suggest you focus on the results you want, not the problem. What are you creating? What will you have in your life? What are your goals?
Debra’s Solutions
Seeing Past the Present Problems
When I begin this conversation with a client, I will ask them, “If you could have anything in the area of health (for example), what would it be?” Their answers, very often, are couched in terms of what they don’t want anymore. “I’d be less stressed,” they’ll say. Or “I want to quit smoking, and lose weight.”
But setting a goal about what’s wrong only gives that behavior power. It entrenches it into your life. So, right now, think about a resolution you want to make for this year. And ask yourself, “If I no longer smoke, what will I have?” Or, “If I’m less stressed, what will my life be like?”
Begin to think in terms of what you intend. Visualize, fantasize, imagine what your life would be like if you didn’t have this behavior. What would you have or be? What specific, concrete, measurable difference? For example, if you intend to quit smoking so that you can begin to run again, perhaps the goal is to run a 5K Race in the Spring. Well, which race? When? Where? Get specific.
Now begin to focus on the result, the goal. Make that the most important thing in the room. Every morning, ask yourself, “What action can I take today that will get me closer to my goal of Running the May Day 5K?”
Now, take that action.
Contact Debra for a Complimentary Coaching Session
Wendy’s Solutions
What a Goal Is (and Isn’t!)
A goal, simply put, is a statement of the result you want in a particular area.
Sounds straightforward enough, and yet there are four things we tend to confuse it with, that a goal is NOT:
What you don’t want, or want to get away from. “Lose 20 pounds” is a complaint, not a goal. “Feel as fit as an Olympian” or “Look like a million bucks” – now that’s a goal!
The process, or how to get there. “Exercise 5 times a week” is not a goal, it’s an action. What’s the result that exercising regularly will get you? “Leap out of bed with joy every morning”, perhaps.
What you think you should want. If your goal feels hard or heavy – or worse, necessary! – it’s probably a “should”. Go for what would really make your heart sing.
What you think is attainable. Way more is possible than we think. Go for what you really want, and allow the universe to arrange the details.
A great goal has four characteristics:
Inspiring: Your goal should knock your socks off. Inspiration will compel you into action. How inspiring is your goal on a scale of 1 to 10? If it’s not a 10, what’s missing? Work with it until it’s a 10.
Succinct: Pack as much punch into as few words as possible. Your goal is like a song title – it captures the essence of the song. It doesn’t list every detail – that’s what the lyrics are for.
Challenging: Your goal should stretch you and provide opportunities for learning and growth. If it scares you a little, congratulations!
Measurable: The measure tells you when you’ve reached your goal, and whether you’re on track. Subjective measures are great – you know when you’re leaping out of bed with joy and when you’re not.
We’d love to hear your New Year’s Goals!
Please note that Wendy is no longer with Artist’s EDGE
Artist’s EDGE Membership
Invest in Your Success
As we’ve been announcing over the last month, we’ve introduced the Artist’s EDGE Membership. This Membership is an unprecedented opportunity for you to wwwelop the skills and tools that are critical to your success.
This month’s Q&A Session is Wednesday, January 11th at 2pm Eastern / 11am Pacific time. The Q&A Session is your opportunity to bring your specific questions and have them answered. These Q&A Sessions are open only to Members so Join NOW!
In last month’s Q&A Class, we worked with several members on issues including:
- Standing out in a crowd when making connections at conferences
- Solving time management issues
- Getting over shyness to promote yourself in the marketplace
Do you have an issue or a question you’d like some specific solutions to? Become a member today for only $1, and be on next week’s call.
Join the Artist’s EDGE Membership
Setting Goals That Get Real Results
January’s Toolbox Teleclass
If you’re thinking, “Goals, yeah, that’s a great idea! But how do I create a goal that really works?” Then this month’s Artist’s EDGE Membership Toolbox Teleclass is for you.
In this content-rich class by phone, Tuesday, January 17th at 4pm Eastern / 1pm Pacific, you will learn how to set goals that:
- Inspire you into action
- Help you get past your roadblocks and fears
- Really, actually, become real!
This teleclass is available only to Artist’s EDGE Members. You can become a Member for only $1.
Don’t miss this great teleclass! Join the Artist’s EDGE Membership today and create your dreams in 2006.
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