What are the main reasons why most of our New Year's Resolutions
fail, and what can we do to insure success?
People have competing commitments driven by deeply protected
and differing assumptions and beliefs. These competing commitments
pull them in opposite directions and cause them to spend
a great deal of energy attempting to satisfy each.
Examples: I am going to lose 20lbs but I love to
eat and drink...or...I am going to change careers or start
a new business but I like the security of the paycheck I
get in my present job.
Most people don't respect their strong immunity to change
and, therefore, don't develop the support systems necessary
to overcome this powerful and dynamic equilibrium to stay
the same. However, there is untapped energy to be found
if we can become less embedded in our immune system that
protects us from change.
They don't give their emotional brain enough time and
energy to relearn deeply ingrained habits by developing
and following a goal-achieving plan through personal determination,
practice, repetition and the support of others.
Why do most have to reach a crisis point before they realize
it's time for a change?
Many people feel they need a change but have a difficult
time articulating/envisioning what that change looks like and how
to make it real. Developing the ability to respond to unpredictable
change is hard for most people. Some are afraid to develop
approaches to move from the more comfortable status quo. Learning
to take risks by starting with small projects (where the impact
of failure is not excessive) is a good approach to overcome
this lack of initiative.
Many need more than self-help books to move forward.
Taking personal initiative to generate innovative ideas and
solutions to problems can require support in the form of a
mentor or coach--who guides us in handling important issues.
When we talk to others, in a safe environment, about the
impending change, we reach clarity on what we must do to move
forward. Building one's capability to accept and effectively
handle change can release energy spent in worry and transform
it into focused action.
John G. Agno, certified executive & business coach
Signature, Inc., PO Box 2086, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Telephone:
734.426.2000 (US Eastern Time Zone) Email: mailto:[email protected]
The most critical knowledge is self-knowledge. http://www.MentoringandCoaching.com
