Unresolved resolutions

Depending on which research you look at, it's about now that most people have broken their New Year resolutions. All those plans, all those good intentions, fallen by the wayside, and we're only in the second week of January. The reasons for this are, of course, many. For some, the resolutions will have been light-hearted suggestions with no real desire or intention to make them reality. For others, the resolutions may have been linked to something that they wanted to change but little if any thought went into considering the reality of change and what it would actually mean.

That said, there will be a good number of people out there who really do want to make changes, who really did set their New Year resolutions with the absolute certainty that they could make it happen, who really do want to be differently. And the frustration, the disappointment at not having succeeded, indeed having not even made a start is real and disheartening.

And if it is you, wanting to make change, making what you believe are the best of plans, there are a number of common mistakes which people make; setting goals which are too vague, focusing on feelings rather than actions, and attempting to do too much, too quickly. It really is a case of being specific, focussing on actions that trigger the positive emotions, and aiming for small goals which one step at a time take you where you want to be. It's as simple as that. And you know that already, don't you?