Why Resolutions Don't Work

2019. The year I turn 65. Hopefully by now, I'm getting smarter, too!

Perhaps it took me this long to learn certain things. Perhaps it took me all of these years as well as another 5 years of writing a weekly article on leadership to understand that "Resolutions" are simply event oriented - not lifestyles that need to happen. Example: I resolve to lose (fill in the blank) pounds. Are we saying I need to lose that weight or that we need to change our lifestyle to lose that weight forever?

I was reminded of this over the Christmas break when I saw my son, Andy, 41.. Two years ago this month he felt a tightness in his chest and went in for a stress test. If there was any issue he was told that he could have a stent put in. It would be out-patient and no biggie. Immediately following his test the doctor came out and told Sarah, his wife, that he was being admitted IMMEDIATELY and having an 8-hour open heart surgery the next morning at 6 a.m. Andy had 99% blockage in 2 places on his widow-maker artery.

Both of his grandfathers had died of heart attacks. One at 48 and the other at 54.

Two years later his life has changed. Oatmeal for breakfast, a salad for lunch, a 4 - 5 mile run on a treadmill daily. Light lifting every other day. He yelled at me for putting salt on food. Andy drinks a lot of water - no alcohol. He also stopped smoking.

Was it a resolution that did this? No, it was a choice for a lifestyle change that happened, immediately, after a life-threatening event.

Andy was a great steak, potatoes, bread eater. No more, though. He eats healthy. His kids eat healthy. His wife always has.

Instead of looking at "Resolutions" for this year, look at it differently. Look at it as what you want to achieve . . . . and can start achieving in 2019. Then, what you are going to do to achieve this. I recently saw a fact that 80% of people who join a gym in January quit within 5 months. Why? Resolutions! Simply because of a resolutions.

Successful people didn't become successful because they made a resolution to become successful. They made a change in their life. How easy it sounds. How difficult it is. How wonderful it can be! Happy New Year.