New Year’s Resolutions – Reasonable Goals or Are You Causing More Harm than Good?
Amy Cuddy, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Harvard Business School noted in a Business Insider interview that New Year’s Resolutions may cause more harm than good due to the unreasonableness of the goals. The issue is unrealistic goals. Goal setting practices can make or break New Year’s Resolutions. Therefore, the remainder of this article will provide you with three specific tips to help you prepare realistic goals that support your personal initiatives and minimize causing more harm than good.
Take a moment to reflect on what you want to change in 2016. What is it? What actions would you need to take to change that part of your life? How does it feel right now? Are you feeling inspired or tired?
1.Identify. Take a moment to reflect on what you want to change in 2016. What is it? What actions would you need to take to change that part of your life? How would those actions differ between what you are currently doing and what would need to be done? If there is a wide gap between the current and desired state actions, what is it that you are willing to do for those actions a part of your daily lifestyle?
2. Feel. How does it feel right now? Are you feeling inspired or tired? Are you feeling determined or sickened? Evaluating your emotions toward those initiatives can help you to understand a deeper message behind your specific desired changes. Be honest with yourself. Identify the feelings that support and hurt your desired changes. Next, evaluate how those emotions can influence the desired change. Now, taking this a step further, think about what you can do right now with those emotions to help you craft your specific goals. How can this emotional knowledge best serve you to start, maintain, and research your desired change? If the emotion doesn’t support it, what can you do to change the emotion or perspective to support your initiatives?
Here, think about what you can do to make an emotional switch and remove the negativity associated with whatever behaviors lead to the desire to change. Now, craft your specific goal(s) to fit your desired outcome.Brainstorm the actions that will support achieving the goal(s) at different stages.
3.Switch. Evaluating the feelings associated with the desired change can bring up negative emotions. Negative emotions can inspire change, or it can stop it before it starts. Here, think about what you can do to make an emotional switch and remove the negativity associated with whatever behaviors lead to the desire to change. Rather than looking to the past as a negative toward not being at your desired state right now, think about all of the positive things that led you to make this change. Make the switch.
4. Build. Take a moment to think of what you have processed regarding your desired goals, emotions toward the goals, and strategies you can do support your emotional state of mind to help you persevere your goals. Now, craft your specific goal(s) to fit your desired outcome.Brainstorm the actions that will support achieving the goal(s) at different stages. Think about those stages and how emotions and behaviors may change during those stages. Pretend you’re having a conversation with someone that is seeking you out for the same advice. You would want to analyze the desired outcome, actions, and emotions toward to create a sound project plan that aids in achieving the desired outcome, right? Why not do the same for yourself. Build your plan, be specific with your actions, and above all else, be kind to yourself.
In essence most want to improve. Most may be more inspired this time of year than others for whatever reason. There is a reason, but that reason lies within the individual. The key to designing resolutions is to be clear, feel, support, and build one’s plan. It is unreasonable to set unrealistic expectations that do not have an internal support system or plan that aligns with achieving the desired outcome. New Year’s Resolutions and goal setting across the board requires attention to purpose, desire, actions, and clear direction to get you from where you are to where you want to be. Set yourself up for success and well-being.
by Katie Doseck, PhD MBA
Chief Visionary and Strategic Ace Up Your Sleeve | Viral Solutions LLC
Copyright 2015 by Viral Solutions LLC
Katie Doseck, PhD MBA | Chief Visionary & Strategic Ace Up Your Sleeve. I catapulted my experience with extensive education, trainings, and personal coaching; earning a PhD in Organizational Management with a specialization in Human Resource Management, MBA in Organizational Leadership, and BA in Law & Liberal Arts. Subject Matter Expert (SME) areas: Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Organizational Change, Change Management, Resource Planning, Strategic Planning, Talent Management, Selling & Sales Management, Training & Development, Decision Making Models, Project Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Motivation. Dr. Doseck is based out of Logan, Utah.
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
At Viral Solutions we are committed to seeing YOU succeed. It is our goal to grow your business with proven digital marketing strategies that will help your business for the long haul.
Stay Up To Speed in the Ever Changing World of Marketing!
Sign-up today for FREE, monthly marketing tips, loopholes, and news to EXPLODE your Return on Investment!
Share your knowledge and gain exposure by becoming a guest author on our blog! Learn how to write for us.