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It’s no secret that New Years’ Resolutions are a BIG DEAL in the health and fitness universe.
Athletic, health, and wellness resolutions are consistently the most popular resolutions made each year, and most people know exactly what they want: 15 pounds gone, a new sporting achievement, performance without pain, healthy new habits…
And yes, having a clear vision of what you want to accomplish is great! Necessary, in fact. But having a well-defined goal is just one piece of the puzzle.
It’s also no secret that most people abandon their resolutions only a couple of months into the new year. How can something that felt so important and so possible on January 1st feel so improbable and unattainable just a few weeks later?
If you are serious about sticking to your resolution this year (health/fitness or otherwise), you absolutely must evaluate your mindset. Your mindset is your guide, and so you must choose your guide wisely.
Choosing the right Resolution mindset
Many people, by choice or advice, rely on their innate willpower to guide them towards success. With a strong enough will; with enough discipline and rigor; with dedication and focus, we hope to have enough mental power to make our resolution happen.
But willpower - despite the commanding title - can be annoyingly flaky. Our willpower is a finite resource that has a tendency to diminish over time. The willpower we “reserved” for achieving resolutions seems to get used for everything but: unexpected work and familial obligations, travel stressors, pets, kids, school, home improvement projects…
And sure, we may occasionally need to call upon our willpower to get off the couch and into the gym. But willpower is more appropriately used to accomplish a chore, or to complete an activity that is uninteresting, boring, or just plain aversive.
Instead, we need a mindset that keeps us excited about our resolution. We must feel deeply motivated to accomplish it, even on days we are feeling “off”.
The best resolution mindset keeps us steady in the face of adversity. It makes us feel encouraged, proud, and even abit giddy when we make progress. If we are serious about sticking to our resolution, we must be curious, motivated, strong, and joyous.
The best mindset for a successful resolution, then, is inspiration!
But what exactly makes inspiration such a powerful guide?
Unlike willpower, inspiration is not a finite mental resource we expend. Rather, inspiration nourishes us;it feeds our energy and drive to accomplish something great. Inspiration kindles our inner fire; it revives us even when we feel depleted.
Even better, our sources of inspiration tend to grow, not diminish, over time. An inspired mind recognizes and celebrates its own accomplishments, however small and incremental. In this way, an inspired mind feeds itself. When we become our own source of inspiration, we are eager to learn more, take our mistakes in stride, and grow.
To be sure, there will be days of low self-confidence, frustration, and doubt. Perhaps it will be quite a challenge to look inward for inspiration on these days. Luckily, there is plenty of inspiration to be found elsewhere.
Watch a video of an amateur athlete you identify with and admire. Read a book written by someone who has achieved what you are seeking to accomplish. Find people with similar goals to your own and support each other.
No matter what you resolve to do, take some time each day to get inspired. It may seem cheesy, silly, and simple, but naming and appreciating your sources of inspiration is both practical and necessary.
With an inspired mind, New Year’s Resolutions cease to be a daunting task to be completed. Instead, our resolution is an exciting opportunity to learn, grow, and flourish.
