StreetVerse

A New Year: Resolutions and Failure

Posted By: Sally Vox
Filed Under: Comedy on January 27, 2011

First off:

I know none of us have posted in more than 6 months. It happens. Lack of motivation, lack of momentum, warlock battles, etc. I’m not here to make excuses. But look at it this way–we all need a death before rebirth/resurrection. It’s part of the hero’s journey. This could be a physical death and resurrection (Jesus, zombies, zombie Jesus, etc.) or it could be a moment of catharsis, psychological or emotional release which leads to a new outlook, a realization. With the pass of the new year, we are reminded of the end of things, but also the beginning. We are reminded how much time we wasted eating chicken nachos or fighting oyster poachers or watching "Heroes" (trust me, this is the biggest waste of time I can think of). We are reminded of our limited time on earth and we vow to change. To become better. To be resurrected…to become a credit to the human race. Thus the New Year’s Resolution was born.

The New Year’s failure was created a few weeks later. Around today actually. Maybe that is why I’m writing today. I vowed to blog more this year. This is my first post.

So why do we fail? Why do we make promises that we know we won’t keep? Is it a coping mechanism to keep us from throwing ourselves off some tower?

One reason is that we don’t make specific goals, making it that much easier to fail. Hitler didn’t say "conquer the world" for his New Years Resolution, he said "Invade Poland" (Fact: This is the first solution suggested to every problem in European politics).

Here is some examples of how you can create more specific resolutions:

Bad Resolution: "Lose Weight"

This is a big one (haha, fat) that people make, but rarely achieve. Losing weight requires some very specific changes in order to be effective. You need to create a plan, and follow it.

Better Resolution: "Lower my caloric intake to 200 calories under maintenance, daily" "Begin a 5 sets of 5 increasing difficulty weightlifting program, utilizing squats, deadlifts, overhead press, bench press and rows" or "Call the lap band office and set up an appointment"

These are what David Allen called "actionable" goals. They are clear, specific, and you are able to do something about them.

Bad Resolution: "Get a job"

Bad. First of all, how about specifying what type of job? Hairdresser, accountant, ninja warlord, gynecologist to the stars…be specific.

Better Resolution: "Send out applications to Cost Cutters, CPA firms, Hirohito-san, and Bevery Hills Ob/Gyn Clinic"

Now I have specific goals that I can easily accomplish. You can replace these goals with other, achievable micro goals as you achieve them.

Don’t get too crazy with your goals, now. Make them achievable.

Bad Resolution: "Write more"

What was I thinking? Write more could mean anything. Technically, I have achieved my goal. Good for the short term, bad in the big, grand scheme of things.

Better Resolution: "Write 3 posts a week"

And so I shall. Still not where I want to be with my blogging, but it’s a start.

 

Here’s to new beginnings!

-SV

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