Are Lofty Goals a Thing of the Past?

A short essay to fulfill the assignment for our Writer's Guild meeting today: 

In 1985 half of Americans made New Year’s Resolutions, while for this year less than one-third made resolutions. And based on past research, only 8% of those will keep the resolution by year’s end. By far the majority of both broken and kept resolutions have to do with health, such as eating, drinking, smoking, weight-loss and exercise.

Those who “tell the world” their resolution on Facebook or Google+ or other channel are less likely to keep it than those who privately work resolutely or better yet become part of an accountability group like Weight Watchers. Also very specific and simple resolutions are more likely to be kept than general ones, such as “limit myself to two desserts a week and walk two miles a day” versus “eat better and exercise more.”

Those who failed to keep their resolutions all have perfectly logical reasons of course! 77% say it was a lack of personal control, 68% excessive stress, 67% negative emotions, 56% social pressure, 51% interpersonal conflict, and 47% a lack of positive emotion. But psychologists say the biggest reason is ambition or setting too difficult a goal that sets one up for failure. And the other is fear, a fear of failure, success or just change – fear of stepping outside the comfort zone.

And so how do we succeed? All the psychiatrists say about the same. Shoot for extremely small and very specific changes, such as cutting back to 1 Coke a day and walk a mile three days a week or lose 1 pound a month by year’s end. Such achievable goals lead to bigger and better improvements in the future.

And if you make your resolution to God, heed these words from the Bible:

“When you tell God you’ll do something, do it—now. God takes no pleasure in foolish gabble. Vow it, then do it. Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up.”  Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 THE MESSAGE

So here's to taking some small steps this year! Happy New Year! 

Embera Indian in Canoe, Chagres River, Panama

A fun way to get some exercise?