On Resolutions and Thinking Small

When it comes to the New Year, I’m not a big fan of resolutions. For some time now I have been working with “goals” for all twelve months, and the turning of the year makes no difference to me. But I can understand the appeal in taking this time to review accomplishments and setbacks of the past year, and to adjust course accordingly. It is clear to me that many people are still using this time to set some big goals for the coming year, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if this is you, I want to encourage you to start thinking “small” as soon as you’re finished thinking “big”.

Thinking Big is about Setting Your Sights on the Mountaintop

Where is it that you would like to end up? It’s important to have a sense of this so that you can steer yourself in the right direction. How high will you aim? We are usually responsible for our own limits, holding ourselves back with doubtful self-talk and fear of failure. So by all means, as you make resolutions, think big! And don’t forget to break those resolutions into goals. If you use the “S.M.A.R.T. Goals” format for example, then you will be making your resolutions Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. I like to ask my clients, “how will you know when you’ve achieved this goal?”

But there’s more to it than setting your sights high and creating a specific and measurable goal.

Set your course, but don’t stop there.

Thinking Small is about Setting out on Your Journey

One foot in front of the other. This is how you’ll actually get there. It’s far less fun and exciting than gazing at the mountaintop and imagining yourself there. But it’s vital. You won’t ever get to that peak destination if you don’t bring your gaze down and start hiking. This is where I emphasize ‘thinking small’ as the most important part of your resolutions… this is where you must begin forming habits.

Too many of us are falling short here. We will quickly lose interest in the big goal when we realize the day-to-day hard work that is involved, and especially when we realize what hard work it is to create new habits. It’s so much easier for us to fall back into old and comfortable ways. We are naturally habit-forming creatures, constantly habituating so that we can move on and put our attention elsewhere. (Remember how hard you had to focus on driving when you were first learning? How’s that rapt concentration looking these days?) Whatever we do on a regular and repeating basis we are increasingly likely to do again, more and more automatically. This is how the brain wires itself. This is the bad news.

It’s also the good news. If you can intentionally do something you’ve chosen every day,  whether it’s a healthy behavior, a more constructive way of thinking, or even your emotional state, you will begin to form a new habit. Over time it will become easier, more natural, increasingly automatic, and eventually second nature. This is neuroplasticity working for you.

But it requires your intentional choice every day. This is why I recommend that you “think small” as you move into 2017. Know which mountain peak you’re aiming for, then put your head down and start hiking.

Be sure to enjoy the little details along the way… but that’s another article!

What are your thoughts about this process? Does this sound familiar? Helpful?

Please leave me a comment – I’d love to hear from you.

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