Do New Year's Resolutions Really Work?

How many times have you committed to changing that bad habit, getting rid of those negative thoughts, showing up and acting differently, or simply stop swirling around that same old struggles?

Maybe you promised yourself you’d lose weight, get a better job, replace your no-longer-suitable mate, save money, and the list goes on. We believe New Year’s resolutions are the way to push ourselves to reach our goals and meet expectations, sometimes our own and more often those established by everyone else. Unfortunately, they don’t usually work.

 In fact, a Forbes article indicates, “The statistics on how many people actually follow through and accomplish their New Year’s resolutions are rather grim. Studies have shown that less than 25% of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days, and only 8% accomplish them.”

 So why don’t resolutions work? First, the act of resolving a problem (like appearance, money, relationships, etc.) means you’re focusing on the problem. And, when you focus on something you’re struggling with that usually means you’re trying to change a behavior, feeling, or thought. I call this the outside-in approach. Out-side in approaches don’t work because every single thought, feeling, and behavior originates from a core belief. So, trying to change the unwanted thought, feeling, or behavior without first shifting the belief is an uphill battle, one you won’t usually win.

 Second, in most cases, what you think of as unwanted thoughts, feelings, and behaviors probably served you at some point in your past – they were a coping mechanism for a particular situation or set of circumstances that are no longer present. In short, because they served you at one point, they became part of your internal operating system, similar to computer software that without a manual update, continues to operate as originally designed even though it is no longer optimal.

 So, what now seems like unsupportive behavior, feeling, and thinking is simply outdated – it does not mean there’s something wrong with you or you need to be fixed. It simply means it’s time to shift your core beliefs, in other words, update your internal operating system.

That’s why resolutions are so often futile and in fact, why most approaches to solving problems are short-lived or altogether ineffective. You’re focusing on the ‘symptom’ so to speak as opposed to the core issue and you’re trying to get at it from the outside-in instead of the inside-out.

 This sounds much more complicated than it really is. While core beliefs are often subconscious, they are accessible with the right support and strategies. An inside-out approach to solving problems, removing what’s blocking you, and achieving all of your goals makes change and transformation effective and straightforward. Author Dan Milliman reinforces, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Now is the time to establish new, current core beliefs that support you in moving forward in your life.

 At your core, you are whole and radiant. Your core beliefs are a guiding force in your life. They are designed to develop and transform with you, they support you in living your most extraordinary life.
 

With Grace, Kimble

Kimble Greene, Ph.D. is a bestselling author, master catalyst, and trailblazer. As the Founder and Chief Catalyst of Catalyst Enterprises Worldwide, LLC, she serves high profile individuals across the globe seeking healing, support, and guidance as they evolve from struggle to success.

Are you ready to resolve your struggles and remove blocks once and for all? Get started by taking the Core Instincts Quiz or fast-track your journey and talk with her directly!