don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

A recent poll indicates that 86 percent of Americans make resolutions involving weight loss and fitness -- and that is just on the occasion of a New Year! Throughout the year, resolutions are formulated and proclaimed in one form or another, on all manner of sensible and bizarre intentions. The former include commitments to cease and desist one or more bad habits (for example., smoking, drinking or other varieties of so-called self-abuse) or to take up healthful activities (for example, to exercise, be more positive, hang out with better company and so on.) I won't go into the latter (in other words, bizarre intentions) but entertain yourself by thinking of a few examples -- there is no shortage of possibilities, as you will note from observing your co-workers, neighbors or children! Surely resolutions are a near-universal urge of Americans. For this reason, it makes sense to look at ways to make the process of making resolutions more effective, especially if you are interested in and committed to self-management for lifestyle artistry. And, who isn't? Hahaha.

Well, most people, perhaps, but you are not like most people. On the contrary, you are interested in and, more important, willing to do something -- lots of things, actually, on a daily basis in order to transform good intentions into practical realities.

One key to the fate of any resolution on New Year's Day or any day (yesterday I suggested NOT making resolutions on New Year's Day!) is to create a clear image of what you want, why you want it and how to get it. Frame any desire that fits into your self-management plan in this detailed, specific fashion and you will vastly improve your commitment to and chances of success.

Few people do this; most are quite casual and thus not all that resolute about following through with what are, for the most part, weenie resolutions not taken seriously. Make none of these -- they do more harm than good. Weenie resolutions break down your self-confidence, respect and energy levels, not to mention your enthusiasm for personal excellence. Go ahead and mess with Texas but not with resolutions. They are not for sissies!

For the 86 percent who fail at resolutions every New Year, there is little disappointment in doing so -- they did not expect to succeed in the first place! Most Americans do not take resolutions seriously -- it is a pity they take them at all. Thus, it should be no surprise, or big deal, when they fail -- they really don't care. They expected to fail and they did. At least they are good at predictions.

If you are going to make one or more resolutions, at any time of year, do so only if you are serious about it or them. Be passionate about your intentions and work to make them come to pass. Avoid any trifling resolution that is not worthy of you, that does not summon the excitement of your best performance. Make one important resolution -- and use a simple wellness change process that enables you to think things through in a thorough fashion.

Such a desirable change process includes timetables, support groups, partners, rewards, benchmarks, actions that deepen your commitment, early action that puts the resolution into play and discourages you from backing out, a diary in which you track your progress and a clear completion picture that tells you when you have arrived, succeeded or triumphed.

This process entails, in other words, a written plan of action. Vague resolutions are less than worthless -- they are a hazard to your health. They are a form of emotional cigarette -- a little nail to put in the coffin of your prospects for self-managing as a lifestyle artist. Resolve to be well but don't do it until you resolve to make real, sensible and effective resolutions. Resolve NOT to make the weenie kind. Be resolute -- make it happen in fun and positive ways that enable you to continue to look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of lifestyle habits. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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