How to Set Attainable New Year’s Resolutions
Gwendolyn Whelpley, MA, LMFT, NCC
Gwendolyn Whelpley is a Kentucky-Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and National Certified Counselor who works with individuals aged 15 and older who struggle with anxiety, depression, adjustment, and more. She also works with couples, including relationships between parents and their adult children.
It is, once again, the time of year when many people make promises to themselves to do better at something or progress in a positive or healthy direction toward some goal in the coming year. However, New Year’s resolutions are often not realistic due to unreasonably high expectations, lofty thinking, or comparing ourselves to others who have attained something we wish to achieve or acquire.
To gain something likely to improve health and well-being, such as a new habit or attitude, you must dismiss the undesirable habit or attitude and replace it. Think of pouring a glass of water. The glass is air filled (undesirables) until water is poured into it. As water is gradually poured into it, the air is gradually forced out, until the glass contains only water (desirables).
Consider necessary commitments to successfully make the change(s) you desire:
- Are you willing to invest adequate time to make change happen?
- Does your patience allow the desired change? Generally, lasting change occurs gradually.
- If your goal involves financial commitment, will your monthly budget allow it, even in part?
- Do you have the required physical and human resources, for example, special skills, certain tangible items, or another person/people?
- Evaluate your support system. Are those closest to you willing to lend sincere support, or are they likely to disregard or mock your serious intentions?
- Assess the sustainability of the desired change(s).
- Consider the scope of the resolution: too specific/narrow? too broad/general?
- What obstacles or challenges might interfere with your plan? How will you address them?
Determine to define your goal and design your path to it thoughtfully. Remember that the process of effective change works g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y. Let your commitment to change be enough to motivate you to stay the course, especially amid setbacks. Keep goals manageable and realistically attainable in these ways to increase your likelihood of success. Finally, maintain a “can do” attitude – because you can do it!
Happy New Year!
Gwendolyn Whelpley, MA, LMFT, NCC
https://gwcounseling.com
Copyright 2024 Gwendolyn Whelpley
Anything someone else in my position can do, I can do. The only question is how much do I want it done. Finding someone else who has done what I want to do fires up the imagination. It is “possible.”