Effective Strategies for Achieving Lasting Change

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One often-quoted expression is “New year, new me.” I’ve never liked that expression. The reason I don’t like it is simple. There is nothing magical about the calendar changing that changes you. The person you are on January 1st will be practically identical to the person you were on December 31st. The calendar does not change you. You change you.

Resolutions? I Say Nay!

If you are thinking about making New Year’s resolutions, don’t. Most resolutions fail. It is not an effective strategy to managing one’s life. If you see the need to make a change, do not wait for an arbitrary start date. Start now. If now happens to be January 1st, so be it. But, you can always make a change no matter what day it is. Waiting for tomorrow or a future date is a recipe for failure. Tomorrow never gets here. It is always today. So, start today.

Change That Lasts

So, how does one make a change that lasts? You get real, and you get motivated. It is easy to say, “I need to lose weight.” However, until you become motivated to change the way you manage your diet and exercise, nothing will happen. The expression that is more powerful is “I want to lose weight.” Then, it becomes something you choose. However, the most powerful thing to say is, “I will lose weight.” The difference is you are making a declarative statement. You are not merely saying that you need or want to do the thing; you are declaring that you will do something about the problem.

Do You Believe?

Belief is key. There is another trite expression. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Belief is powerful. It ties you to action. If you set the intention and believe it is possible, it is more likely to come to fruition. So, I leave you with this question: What do you believe is possible for you?