7 Ways To Make Real Change In The New Year
By Larry Cappel. Posted on .
5. Up to now, your goals are inspiration. It’s time to change the inspiration to motivation. It’s time to activate your resolution. What specific first action can you take to move you towards your goal? Don’t try to figure out every step towards the end result before getting started. You’ll just get overwhelmed and are more likely to abandon the entire goal. Do you need to talk to a nutritionist or a personal trainer? Do you need to decide what type of diet you are gong to follow and shop for those foods? What is a specific first step? Is there a smart-phone app that will help you succeed? Once you’ve identified that first step determine a start date and an end date and put it on your calendar. Be reasonable. For example don’t schedule things on a week when you have to travel for work. It won’t happen if you do.
6. Track your progress and reward your accomplishments! Reinforce each small step by acknowledging it and giving yourself some type of “pat on the back!”
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7. Don’t let a setback derail you. In the world of addiction treatment there is a familiar saying: “relapse is a part of recovery.” If you fall off your plan for a day, get back on it the next day. One day is not a disaster, giving up completely is. Persist, persist, persist! If you are feeling discouraged call or visit one of the people that you originally told about your goal. Don’t be afraid to ask for support from your trusted friends and family.
Research shows that if you can keep one goal going for one year you are very likely to continue it or another goal into the next year. Remember, personal success is a longterm project. You’ll be far more successful in the long run if you approach change as the tortoise and not as the hare. Jackrabbit starts and stops don’t not lend themselves to permanent change.
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If this sounds like you or anybody you know, contact me through my website for more information. I'm here to help at www.larrycappeltherapy.com
