When we consider our 8 dimensions of wellbeing, we likely have goals in each area.

Some we may have set as New Year’s Resolutions.

This time is when most are starting to give up.

In fact, research has shown that less than 10% of us will actually meet the resolution.

What happens?

And what can we do about it?

My Perspective

Based on my observations, we can likely trace it back to the hope formula:

Hope = Goals + Willpower (Habits & Optimization) + Waypower (Possibilities & Evaluation)

We can have challenges with our goals, our willpower or our waypower.

Challenge #1 – Goals: We may not have set a clear enough goal.  For example, “be healthier” is not a goal. The goal might be to eat xx servings of vegetables each day or walk 30 minutes.  Those are more tangible, and you can determine if you are achieving them or not.

Challenge #2 – Willpower: Here our habits and our desire are holding us back. We may be feeling that we “don’t have enough time” or “other things took priority”.  However, these are covering up the real issues. We may not have appropriately seeded the habit or are struggling to set boundaries around an activity for ourselves. If we don’t have enough passion for achieving the goal and we are struggling with our willpower, the resolution will fade away.

Challenge #3 – Waypower: With a goal that is too big or not specific, the problem might be with our waypower. We feel overwhelmed with all the clutter and tasks to achieve our goal – the hill is just too high to climb. If this is the challenge we are facing, breaking the goal down into the smallest pieces possible is a great start. Then, trying something for a small goal to get the momentum going. If the first thing doesn’t work, have a plan B in place to try a different approach.

Your Turn

Are you struggling with a New Year’s Resolution?

Can you pinpoint the challenge from the options above?

What could you do today to get that resolution back on track?