Ask yourself this question: If there were no pressure from others, would you want to change? Studies have shown that people are more likely to succeed in changing their behavior when they are motivated by internal rather than external forces. So basically you are more motivated when your 'why' is deeper than something that is essentially materialistic.
Being motivated by the money you will win at your job for being the "biggest loser" is nice for the first 3 months of the year but what will you do after that? The special date that is coming up where you have to fit in the clothes you already bought will put a fire under your butt, but when that date pasts will you keep going? These are just examples and this is not my attempt to throw you under the bus for what motivates you. Getting ready for vacation, winning a competition, earning money for your work, looking good in that new dress, and having a six pack for summer is nice. But dig deeper than that because ultimately it will keep you going.
Making resolutions work involves changing behaviors and in order to change a behavior, you have to change your thinking. Yes, this means you have to rewire your brain. Now before you start rolling your eyes hear me out. I'm not some voodoo doctor that believes in spells. But scientist have proved through the use of MRI's that habitual behavior is created by thinking patterns that create neural pathways and memories, which become the default basis for your behavior when you are faced with a choice or a decision. Change requires creating new neural pathways from new thinking.
The other aspect of not reaching those resolutions lie in the cause and effect relationship. You make the resolution to lose weight, get stronger, eat better, and be more consistent at the gym. You made that resolution because you thought it would change your life for the better. But when it doesn't do that right away you may get discouraged and revert back to those old behaviors.
The success of resolutions has much to do with the issue of breaking bad habits and establishing new ones Establishing more desirable habits will ultimately keep you going when times are tough. Habits form through repetition of the same behavior in response to the same cue. Researchers have discovered that the first few times you do something are the most strongly habit forming.
Stay tuned! Coming up, I will dive into some helpful tips to assist you in achieving all your health related resolutions.