Honestly Make Your Resolutions for Greater Success.
With the New Year fast approaching I have spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about taking things to the next level. It is the time of year when most of us look ahead and dream of bigger and better things. Those of us that have yet to give up on the idea of New Years resolutions try to imagine all of the things we want to stop doing and we imagine ourselves better off and "happier" with the new improved habits and results.
Visualization is so often mentioned in popular research on the topic of goal setting. Ironically, it just might be the biggest reason why 99% of us fail to accomplish our quest for betterment. "But Mike, how could that be?" Let me clarify Visualization can play an important role in goal achievement for many people. I use visualization as often as I can. The reason you fail at your well-intentioned endeavors year in and year out is because you aren't visualizing enough information. You are only focusing on the fairy tale ending and neglecting the journey.
In order for you to be successful, you must honestly visualize your preferred outcome, along with all the sacrifices you must be willing to make along the way. Whatever it is you choose to do less of, or more of is going to require new habits, and self-discipline.
Let's use the example of losing weight. When you proclaim that this year you are going to lose weight, or perhaps start going to the gym to lose weight, there is a pretty good chance you are visualizing yourself getting ready to put on that bathing suit, or summer outfit. And just like you learned in that goal-setting seminar you went to 10 years ago, you visualize yourself all happy and smiling, and slimmer. You imagine your friends; some old, some new, all commenting on how good you look. You think, "I can sign on for this. This summer is going to be great. I may even sign up for the local over 30 sports team this year."
Are you ready for this? This is the problem. At the first sign of trouble you are going to get frustrated and quit. If you want to be successful you should be visualizing the 9 degree mornings heading to the gym in the dark freezing your butt off as you are scraping the frost off the windshield. You should be imagining the sore muscles, and those sleepless nights dreaming of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. The image you want burned in your brain is you sitting at the St Patrick's Day festival eating cabbage and drinking water.
Now this is the best part. The more difficult you imagine it to be, the easier it will be to overcome and conquer in real life. This quick story from Thanksgiving will illustrate my point. As you may know, my wife Lashanda and I were just married in the beginning of October. This Thanksgiving marked our first Holiday together as a married couple. We decided that we would spend the morning with my children in Connecticut, and then drive to see her parents in Long Island. All I could think of was the horrible Long Island Traffic. Let me tell you, the entire week leading up to our trip I imagined hours, and hours sitting in traffic. The trip usually takes us about 90 minutes. On thanksgiving we made it to our destination in 2 1/2 hours.
Here is the interesting part. When I talked to people about my trip, the traffic situation inevitably came up in conversation. Without fail, 100% of the time, I said the "the traffic wasn't that bad. In fact it wasn't bad a t all." When was the last time you spent an hour in traffic, and felt no reason to complain? Has that ever happened to you?
Remember the last time you imagined a bad situation. It almost never turns out to be as bad as you imagine. If it is easier than you anticipated, then you will feel like it's just plain Easy! Want more proof? Let's take a simple example of that last call you were hesitant to make. Maybe it was to a client, or a disgruntled customer. Did it turn out as bad as you thought?
Now let's suppose you write down all of the things you want to stop doing, or start doing. Go ahead and visualize 6 months out. Treat yourself to a wonderful colorful scene of you looking and feeling great. That is going to be a great reward for overcoming all the hard times ahead. Won't it be worth it? That is up to You!
Happy New Year, Happy New Beginning. Remember, if it can be done, it can be done by YOU!
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