As the year draws to a close and we eagerly anticipate the arrival of a new one, many of us start thinking about the changes we want to make, the improvements we seek, and the resolutions we intend to set.
It’s an age-old tradition, the New Year’s resolution, but it’s also a practice that often leaves us feeling disheartened and defeated as we find ourselves unable to follow through. So, what makes New Year resolutions so ineffective, and how can we enhance our chances of success?
The first crucial step in understanding this phenomenon is to recognise that a resolution is essentially a goal – and there lies the problem, because we need to consider developing an outcome instead of a goal, as it’s more powerful and meaningful.
We often use goals to help us plan our lives, whether it’s something as significant as buying a house, a car or planning a holiday. But when we want to achieve more radical change in our lives we need to focus on outcomes.
To increase our ability to bring about meaningful change, it is vital to engage our minds effectively. The mind operates differently from our spoken words, making it essential to think positively and to avoid negative language when striving for change. Consider the shift from “giving up smoking” to “becoming a non-smoker.” Language matters and we must use it wisely.
Give yourself a HUGG
Our minds possess immense power, and they can achieve remarkable feats when trained, developed and utilised correctly. They can craft great outcomes or, as I like to call them, “Huge Unbelievable Great Goals” (HUGGs).
To formulate an effective HUGG, you can ask yourself a series of questions:
• What do I want to achieve?
• What criteria will measure my success?
• Where, When, What and With whom?
• What resources do I need, what do I have and what’s missing?
• How much control do I have, how much do I need and who can assist me?
• In what context am I operating, and what are the consequences of success or failure?
• Do I have multiple outcomes and do they align or clash?
With these questions in mind, let’s reconsider New Year Resolutions. What is it that we truly want to achieve in the coming year? We must be clear about the problems, issues, or challenges we wish to address. Defining these in 25 words or less can provide us with a clear starting point, a baseline from which we can measure progress.
Outcomes vs goals
What distinguishes an outcome from a goal lies in the approach of how they are constructed or crafted. Goals can be interchanged with terms such as targets, milestones or objectives. On the other hand, an outcome is something more significant and because it has more meaning it needs more consideration. An outcome engages the mind and emotions, so you are working towards a bigger achievement within a specific timeframe.
For example, a resolution – or a goal – is to go on a diet (an action) to lose x stone or achieve a specific weight. An outcome would be to look fabulous on a beach in Greece in August and enjoy a healthier life afterwards. To achieve that you would eat more healthily and take more exercise (actions). You would track your progress (assess milestones) by monitoring your weight, feeling fitter, being able to walk further or run faster or have more energy in your life.
As we approach 2024, it’s time to rethink how we set our intentions. Rather than making vague resolutions, let’s adopt a more strategic and outcome-oriented approach. By setting outcomes or HUGGs and following those principles we can increase our chances of success and make 2024 a year of meaningful change.
If you’re looking to enhance your personal or professional life, please get in touch.
