Let me first state, resolutions and dreams are not in the same ball park. As the New Year rolls in resolutions are the talk of the media. The University of Scranton in their Journal of Clinical Psychology reported some interesting results about resolutions. Let’s look at just a few.
- Only 45% of Americans usually make resolutions. Of that only 8% are successful at achieving them, but if you clearly make resolutions, you are 10 times more likely to make them happen.
- Only 75% of resolutions are still being worked on during the first week. This percentage drops to 64% in one month and 46% in six months.
- The types of resolutions involve the following:
- Self improvement or education at 47%
- Weight related at 38%
- Money related at 34%
While not the top ranked area for resolutions, the fitness and nutrition industries are very excited over the goals people set in the New Year. This usually relates to memberships purchased and never used as well as diet products that are purchased in large quantities. I don’t know about you, but I hate going to the gym or taking classes during January because the lines to use the equipment are huge and the classes are filled to capacity. If I wait until February, it is like an abandoned town – no one is there.
So what makes resolutions so challenging to continue over the long haul? I think if you look at the top ten resolutions, you might get the idea:
- Lose weight
- Get organized
- Spend less; save more
- Enjoy life to the fullest
- Stay fit and healthy
- Learn something exciting
- Quit smoking
- Help others in their dreams (Why not help yourself with your dreams? – just a thought)
- Fall in love
- Spend more time with family
Do you see it? Where is the passion in these statements? Where is the big, bold, vibrant picture of these goals? These are not even good goal statements much less the statement of a dream. Dreams are rich with description; they evoke the senses in a very deep visceral and passionate way. Wouldn’t you be more excited and committed to working on something that connected to your emotional core? Of course, you would.
Let’s move away from the general resolution and move toward the dreams that ignite you.
As a dreamer, it is important to me to share with others my thoughts and ideas. If you loved what you just read, this content is not for free. As a form of payment, I am asking you to comment or share this on Facebook or tweet about it on Twitter.
Linda Patten, MBA, BSN, RN has over 30 years of experience leading women to success in building and achieving their dreams. She turns networking marketing women from product sellers to leaders of highly functioning teams. To learn more about her innovative programs, click on Contact Us.