Making Resolutions That Work

Has it been long enough for you to have started giving up on all those New Years Resolutions? You are not alone. In fact, according to a new survey, most people now, saving themselves the bother of getting angry with themselves, just don't make any New Year Resolutions.

In a newly released survey of 1012 Americans, only 45% of Americans now say they write up New Years Resolutions down from 88% of Americans who did so in the past. The random telephone survey was conducted during the period August 5 to August 8, 2005.

The figures show a drop of almost 50 percent among Americans who use the annual goal-setting institution. Why the dramatic drop? Apparently, “New Year’s Resolutions just don’t work.”

Says the surveys author, Stephen Shapiro of Goalfree Living: “At some point, people just decide to stop hurting themselves, and they call the whole thing off.”

Setting a Resolution this Year? Use Common Sense — or Maybe Not!

Albert Einstein once defined common sense as ‘the collection of prejudices acquired by age 18.

According to the new study, of those who plan to set New Years Resolutions for 2006:

–34% say they will set a Resolution related to their wallet
–38% say they will set a Resolution related to their waistline
–47% say they will set a Resolution related to their head i.e. a self-improvement type goal
–31% say they will set a Resolution related to their heart — i.e. a relationship or dating goal.

“These are all good areas to focus on in the New Year,” agrees Shapiro. “But the danger in this type of goal-setting is that we become focused on where we are going rather than enjoying where we are right now. We sacrifice today in the hope that a better future will emerge — only to discover that achievement rarely leads to true joy.”

Article to be continued...