We read a lot about commitments this time of year. According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, just 71% of people who made resolutions 12 days ago are still keeping them. By the end of the year, only 8% typically succeed in keeping New Year’s their resolutions. If you’re among those who have trouble keeping commitments to yourself, you may be sabotaging your own success.
To learn why, ask yourself these questions from the PULSE© model used by Wellness Specialist Jenny Jacobs:
1. What is your tendency to control or be controlled? In Get Unstuck and Shift That Paradigm, Jacobs says that we all have an internal paradigm that helps us justify what we believe and how we feel. Some people believe that most things that happen in their life – both good and bad – are under their control. Others believe that they have no control and are victims of their world. According to Jacobs, “There are things in life we can control and things we cannot. It is imperative to differentiate between these circumstances to truly achieve a balanced paradigm.”
2. Do your unique strengths need excavating? In Unearth Your Unique Strengths, Jacobs states that every one of us has unique strengths that we may not be tapping into. She writes, “Your life is a series of events that leaves a context. Each layer or event has made you who you are today. The exciting thing is that the strengths and character traits you possess are still present. The precious gifts that lie within you don’t disappear. They may become squelched or hindered but they still exist.”
3. Are you focused on the present? In How To Linger in the Present, Jacobs suggests that we tend to dwell in doubt, fear, and bitterness – none of which have to do with the present moment. She says, “Living in the present is not about making plans for the future. It is making right choices in the present that lead you into the future in a more empowering way. But, it’s not an easy task. You literally have to tell your brain to STOP. Focus on the present. Focus on the sound of your breath. Focus on what is happening now and embrace it.”
4. Are you letting excuses run your life? Jacobs warns in 4 Ways to Surpass that Auto-Pilot Lifestyle not to wait for conditions to be perfect to start making changes. “Don’t wait until everything is just right. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. You won’t enjoy your life if you don’t enjoy your challenges.”
5. What is holding me back from experiencing right now? Ever driven home from work and pull into the driveway with no memory of the drive? Do you remember what you had for dinner last night? Don’t allow your life to be an endless stream of unrecorded moments. “Experience your life. Engage in your experiences. Get back in touch with the everyday-ness of your life,” Jacobs says in The Power to Act and Seize the Day.
Jacobs’ PULSE© model is an antidote to the resolution cycle. It’s a way to connect with who you are, where you are, and why you do what you do on a daily basis. When you can do that, you’ll never need to make another New Year’s resolution for the rest of your life.
Question: Do you know someone who regularly keeps their commitments? Are they more in touch with their daily behavior?
Join me and Jenny Jacobs this Thursday, April 14th in San Diego from
5:30-7:30 p.m. for RE:FRESH 2016! We will welcome 2016 in refreshing ways and rethink how we approach New Year’s resolutions. Learn more and register here: https://execexcellence.wpengine.com/refresh2016/
