Today is the most hopeful and optimistic day of the year.
It’s great!
Whatever goals or resolutions you have set for yourself, I am excited for you!
We are all trying to improve, and even if things haven’t gone the way we wanted in the past, we hope this time will be different.
Musician Nick Cave describes hope as “optimism with a broken heart,” and I think that’s exactly right. We all try to be different when change is so difficult.
If you’re trying to develop a new workout habit or change the number on the scale this year, I salute you. Setting a goal for change is very laudable.
But to give ourselves the best chance of achieving our goal, we need to combine that goal with some introspection and self-awareness.
Here are TWO questions to ask yourself at the start of 2025…
Question 1: What’s different this time?
I’m proud of you for starting again.
But how is this attempt different?
If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always had.
The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior.
If you choose the same goal or strategy that you’ve tried (unsuccessfully) in the past, the end result will be the same: another wasted year of wondering “why can’t I pull myself together?”
So, think about what’s different this time!
Don’t just “follow XYZ diet,” “give up all sugar forever,” or “train for a marathon,” especially if you’ve already tried those things and can’t stick to them.
Something must be different this time:
- Make fewer changes.
- Choose ONE goal and focus on it.
- Choose a different workout routine.
- Choose a different diet or nutrition change.
- Choose a different time of day to work out.
- Recruit a friend to join you so you’re not doing it alone.
- Create your new desired behavior beneficial or necessary.
Prove to yourself that you have learned something from your past attempts. Don’t let past failures be in vain: they showed you what doesn’t work for you.
Try something different this time!
Question 2: What are you afraid of?
You’re full of momentum right now, and that’s awesome.
But in three weeks, life is going to happen and something is going to go wrong.
What has been your tendency when this has happened in the past?
We ask each Client Coaching NF before they begin: “What makes you most nervous?” »
This response is something they are aware of as a result of their past attempts:
Are you going to get busy and decide to “take a break until things slow down?” » Great! Now you know that when that little voice in your head tells you that, you can prepare for it, plan to do something differently, and decide not to do it. to have to listen to that voice in your head.
Are you going to have a bad day and completely go off the rails? Great! Now you know that when you have a bad day, you can forgive yourself, not look back with anger or guilt, and get back on track.
Are you going to give up even if you really, really want to go through with it? Great! It happens to all of us when motivation wanes after a few weeks. Consider add a pact of Ulysses to guard against your weaknesses or make a bet with a friend to hold you accountable.
NF coach Matt Myers was recently on the Mental Golf Podcast with Josh Nichols – and at 24:30 of the episode, Matt pointed out something to Josh that surprised him:
“You told me before we started, ‘I know I’m going to come out of the gates HARD, but about 3 weeks later I’m going to burn out and disappear.’
And I said, “Thanks for letting me know,” and I had all these alarms and alerts ready to contact you repeatedly around day 21! »
Josh had the self-awareness to know where he was going to go wrong in the future, he and Coach Matt planned it and overcame the obstacle together.
Since then, they’ve worked together for two months (and counting), and Josh has only missed one day of recording and missing a day didn’t cause the normal “all or” behavior. nothing” from Josh!
This time MAY be different
We all intend to change, and even when we are self-conscious…
We often have eyes bigger than we can chew:
Our goals and hopes often overwhelm the reality that we are fallible, busy, complicated humans living unpredictable lives.
It’s good !
If we are aware of these things, if we can try differently… then even if it following The attempt also doesn’t work, we can remove this strategy from the list of potential successful paths and try again.
That’s what life is all about anyway: trying, failing, adjusting, restarting.
-Steve
PS: If you don’t want to take this trip alone, I would be honored if you go the NF coaching program.
Our coaches are awesome and we would love to help you achieve your goals. We’ve had a ton of signups over the last few days, which really makes me want to help so many new people.
