Health & Wellness Magazine HealthQuest Spring 2018 | Page 17

LET’S TALK about goals.
In particular, did you set any goals at
the beginning of this year?
I’ve always used January 1st as the day
that I start on my new goals.
After I set my goals, I like to think of
myself just like this…
detailed goals, it can still be difficult to
actually follow through on them after
the first few months.
Instead of hitting the trails, though…. It
feels a whole lot easier to hit the sofa.
Most of us make ambitious plans on
January 1st, like starting a new exercise
plan or getting more done at work, but
these resolutio ns often tend to fizzle
out after a few months.
And I’m not alone on this one–research
shows us that 88% of people fail to
achieve their New Year’s Resolutions!
For that reason, I want to provide you
with some strategies that will help you
actually achieve your goals.
Or this…
January 1st has passed us by and you
no longer have the clean slate of a
new year as your motivation to make a
change in your life.
So what can you do?
THE SOLUTION: DISCOVERY-
DRIVEN PLANNING
First, I want you to think of one of your
resolutions or goals.
I’m not the only one with this New
Year’s excitement. I’ve found that
there’s something about the clean slate
of a new year that inspires us all to
want to make change in our lives.
This year, I used the same goal setting
guide that I always do (if you want to
set some goals now, use it to help you–
it’s totally free!).
What I love about the guide is that it
helps you set incredible detailed goals–
something that research shows is really
important in keeping us stick to our
plans.
But even with these specific and
Really picture that goal. How good of a
job have you done so far with sticking
to this goal? Are you any closer to
achieving it?
Now, there’s this tool created by
researchers at Wharton and Columbia
business schools. This tool is known to
work – it’s taught at Harvard Business
School and used by some of the
world’s biggest brands.
So back to that resolution of yours.
What assumptions MUST hold true for
you to be able to follow through on
your goal?
WHAT ARE YOU ASSUMING THAT
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO?
Say that your goal is to eat less sugar.
You’re assuming that you will be able
to resist sugar, that you will overcome
your sugar cravings, that you won’t buy
more sugary foods, and that you will
feel satisfied without sugar.
Here’s the problem – the reason you
probably won’t follow through on your
goals is because those assumptions will
not hold true.
You’re assuming too much. And this is
the downfall of resolutions.
We assume that in the new year we
will be these different people who can
do all of these things that our current
selves fail to do.
If you assume that your Future Self will
suddenly have all of this willpower and
say “I’ll take some carrots instead of a
cookie!” when the Current You always
eats the cookie, you’re only setting
yourself up to fail.
And here’s why: our feelings defeat
us. You see, a big myth related
to resolutions is that with enough
willpower, we can do anything –
including give up sugar.
However…it doesn’t work that way.
It’s called “discovery-driven planning.” Assuming that you can achieve your
goals based on willpower alone will set
you up for failure.
Here’s how to use it: Ask yourself what
assumptions must hold true in order for
your strategy to succeed. WHY CAN’T WE RELY ON
WILLPOWER? BLAME DECISION
FATIGUE
You see, it sounds so simple – but it
makes a huge difference. Here’s why.
2018
2018 SPRING
SPRING 17