HOW TO KEEP YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION!

THE FACTS: ONLY 46% OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS ACTUALLY KEEP THEM!

We are about to let you know how you can avoid being

'THE DREADED MAJORITY!'

Lets begin with the three most popular new years resolutions. Yes...you guessed it, losing weight, exercising, and quitting smoking. With losing weight being the the landslide winner of course!

A big part of keeping our resolution is understanding why so many of us fail.

One reason could be that a lot of us make resolutions to do only things that we are not otherwise likely to do. Only an anorexic would resolve to eat ice cream at least once a week, and only a workaholic would resolve to spend more time in front of the television. Thus we use the occasion of the New Year to try to change behavior that may be the most difficult to change. Making failure a distinct possibility.

In spite of these odds, we power thru, we make resolutions because we have decided that it would be best to do whatever it is that we are resolving to do. But, if we have already made that decision, why don’t we just do it?

Aristotle had an interesting view, one that fits well with our everyday experience of failing to do what we know to be best. Our reason may tell us what is best to do, he thought, but in a particular moment our reason may be overwhelmed by emotion or desire. Thus, the problem is not lack of knowledge, but the failure of our reason to master other, non-rational aspects of our nature.

That view is supported by recent scientific studies showing that much of our behavior is based on very rapid, instinctive, emotionally based responses. Although we are capable of deciding what to do on the basis of rational thought processes, such decisions often prove less powerful than our instinctive feelings in moving us to action.

What does this have to do with keeping resolutions? Richard Holton, a professor of philosophy at MIT and the author of “Willing, Wanting, Waiting,” points out that a resolution is an attempt to overcome the problem of maintaining an intention when we expect that, at some future time, we will face inclinations contrary to our intention. Right now, we want to lose weight and we are rationally convinced that this is more important than the pleasure we will get from that extra slice of cake. But we anticipate that, faced with cake tomorrow, our desire for that rich chocolate texture will distort our reasoning so that we might convince ourselves that putting on just a little more weight doesn’t really matter all that much.

Now that we have identified the reasons why we have difficulty keeping our resolutions, we need to focus on techniques to overcome our inclination.

Some experts recommend breaking your resolution into a series of small steps:

1. Tell your family and friends about your resolution

Gain support...give your friends and family permission to slap food out of your hands!

Gives you accountability

2. Regularly remind yourself of the benefits of achieving your goal

Fit into your 'skinny' jeans, make your ex feel regretful, not wincing when you pass a mirror, over all better health.

3. Give yourself a small reward each time you achieve one of the steps towards your goal

Just don't let that reward be a trip to the bakery every time you spend a half hour at the gym. How about a shopping trip to Nordstrom, or maybe a new workout outfit!

4. Keep track of your progress towards your goal

Keep a journal or put a chart on the fridge door. Better yet, put up a pic of yourself that accentuates the things you find undesirable about your body!

Individually, each of these factors seems trivial. Collectively, they are ways of exerting our self-control not only now, but in the future as well. Let's not be to hard on ourselves, never feel that just because we have slipped up, maybe devoured three pieces of New York style cheesecake, that we have to give up! We can choose to sabotage ourselves or be our own best friend!

NEVER FORGET: THE RAMONA KAUHI TEAM SUPPORTS YOU AND YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION!

WE CAN HELP WITH ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS!

CALL TODAY 360-909-1540