We’ve reached the end of January. The first month of the new decade is behind us. January is the time of year when New Year’s Resolutions are made and too often are broken.
As February is about to start, have you taken stock of where you’re at yet? Are you still working towards your health and fitness goals? If you’ve already given up…then why?
Here’s a quote that I think might help you to understand a bit better why so many people fail to see their Resolutions all the way through to their stated desired result:
“Telling others your goals and plans often results in applause, followed by your unwillingness to follow through. You’re better off zipping your lips until you’ve achieved your goal.” – Matt Furey
If you think about it, Furey’s right. For most people, the ones who fall into the same cycle of making and breaking their New Years Resolutions year after year, it’s a bad idea to announce their goals to anyone.
For one thing, oftentimes the burning desire to actually achieve said goal is not there. The willingness to see the goal through to the end simply isn’t strong enough.
There is a popular school of thought that suggests that just stating the goal will make a person more willing to see it through so that they can avoid the humiliation of not following through.
Indeed, there is some validity to that, however, it only applies to a very small amount of the population, most likely the small percentage of the population that actually sees their Resolutions through to the desired result.
In fact, most of those folks that fall into the category of not seeing their goals through, are really just looking for approval from their family or peers, and stating, “I’m gonna lose 20 pounds this year,” or some such goal will often get that approval.
Once that approval is received, why would that person then want to put in any hard work whatsoever to achieve the stated goal? Sure, they may hit the gym for a few weeks and try out some fad diet, but once it gets tough, they’re all done. They’ve already gotten their desired outcome. They got applauded and got pats on the back and the approval they wanted when they stated their goal.
Not to mention, if they do not get the approval or encouragement they seek and are instead met with negativity, they’ll just be disheartened or discouraged and will not pursue their goal anyway.
The smarter strategy is to keep your mouth shut about your intentions. Make sure that you really want to accomplish your weight loss or fitness goal. Make sure it’s something you really want to do. Then get started working on it. And shut your mouth about it until it’s done.
If you realize that you want to achieve this goal for yourself and your own needs, because YOU want to for your own health, longevity, and benefit…you’re more likely to see it through to it’s desired result.
You’re more likely to be focused on the hard work and dedication and discipline involved with getting yourself into shape. You’ll be too busy focused on that rather than the approval of others.
In reality, what do you need anyone else’s approval for anyway?
You’re the one that has to look at yourself in the mirror. You’re the one that has to live with yourself 24 hours a day. You’re the one that will deal with health issues should you continue down the road of unhealthy habits and lifestyle choices.
So to hell with what others think… that means your close friends, your family, parents, kids, grandkids, spouse, boss, coworkers, random social media folks… to hell with what they think!
If you want to get in shape, if you want to get healthy, if you want to lose 20 pounds, then shut up, get to work and do it.
The compliments will undoubtedly start to come as the results do. And a funny thing will happen…you’ll notice that though nice to hear, they’re really not as important as you may have previously thought.
And if negativity comes your way, rather than be discouraged, you’ll see it for what it is…jealousy and insecurity on the part of the individual throwing it your way. Just smile and keep going knowing you’re on the right track.
Until tomorrow…
Always Activate. Get Going.
