New Wisdom for our New Year’s Resolutions.
May 29, 2023
Would you invest in a business that has an 80% failure rate and lasts only about 45 days? Well, that defines the effectiveness of our average New Year’s resolution. Some pundits say you can improve your odds by making sure your resolutions are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-Based, and Time-Oriented. But smart isn’t necessarily wise.
I have an alternative approach to make sure we keep our resolutions. I’m calling it my 4P’s for a new and wiser resolution. Here they are:
- Passionate: What the SMART model doesn’t get is that we’re not robots. We need passion—deep caring and love for what we aim to accomplish.
- Practice: A resolution requires a practice or habit that reinforces it regularly. Don’t make a resolution without first incorporating the right habits that support success.
- Premium: Resolutions should be small in number. They’re not only easier to remember that way but forces you to focus on what is most important.
- Public: You’re 75% more likely to live up to your commitments if you share them with others. Find your tribe of nurturing and supportive friends, then share your goals.
Don’t discount resolutions just because everyone says they don’t work. They may simply need a new and wiser approach. Follow the 4p’s and see what happens.
May 2020 bring you a renewed sense of spirit and the belief that anything is possible.
