Since it’s a new year, let’s talk about making New Year’s resolutions that stick. A New Year’s resolution is a choice we make, and most people don’t succeed in maintaining their New Year’s Resolutions for more than a month or so. So, how can we make a healthy New Year’s Resolution, and make it stick, for the whole year, and beyond?
New Year’s Resolutions Start With a Choice
In his book, The Habits of Health, Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen explains how to dramatically boost your chance of success by understanding the kinds choices we make.
A new year’s resolution is called a Primary Choice; it’s what you’ve decided to do. Let’s say your Primary Choice is to lose weight. That’s one Primary Choice, your goal for the year.
Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail
We know that most New Year’s Resolutions don’t last. Every single day you face Secondary Choices. Do I eat that cheesecake? Do I exercise today? Make the right Secondary Choices, every day, and you’ll surely keep your Primary Choice. That makes sense, right?
It makes perfect sense, but it’s just not enough. You’re not going to skip that cheesecake and go to the gym, because there’s no real motivation, no emotional component, in just losing weight. It’s hard for most people to stay invested in a choice that isn’t motivating.
A Fundamental Choice Can Save Your New Year’s Resolution
The answer is to make one more choice, called a Fundamental Choice. A Fundamental Choice is something strong enough to survive every Secondary Choice you’ll encounter. It’s the motivating reason, the WHY you chose to lose weight. That’s your Fundamental Choice.
Maybe you’ve decided you want to live longer, or to look better. Maybe you’ve decided you want to wake up every morning, pain free. Or, maybe you want to be able to play volleyball with your kids this summer. Whatever it is, your Fundamental Choice is the real motivator, the real goal. Your Primary Choice is the strategy to achieve that goal. And your Secondary Choices are just the daily tactics.
What’s Your Fundamental Choice?
What do you really, really want? Think about it. Recognize and focus on your Fundamental Choice. Then make a Primary Choice to meet that goal, and it’s much easier to make the right Secondary Choices, over and over. Keeping your Fundamental Choice in mind, and understanding that every other choice can help us achieve that goal, is key to maintaining our New Year’s Resolutions.
If you’re planning your healthy strategy for the new year (or any time), and you’d like support, let’s talk. As your coach, I’ll to support your healthy choices. Let’s have a discussion, and look at options to achieve your Fundamental Choice, whatever it is. The easiest path to the mountain top is one we travel together. You can reach me at rockingoodhealth.com/contact-us/
Sam Reichgott, LMT
Rockin’ Good Health, LLC