Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail: How to Succeed with Yours

John Thurman's Resilient Solutions Shortcast

Why do New Year’s Resolutions fail? Mainly, because they are only a statement, or what we wish for in the coming year. There are usually no action plans, no deadlines, no backup plans. Sometimes they are unrealistic resolutions, with no other thought or plans besides the statement.
3 Reasons they fail:
First, we need to get our thinking right before we can experience enduring change.

Second, we fail to have a structure—a pathway with some built-in accountability—to keep us focused and intentional.

Third, we are fearful of making these changes because of how they might impact us.
4 Barriers:
Barrier #1 — The feeling that we are fundamentally flawed and either don’t deserve or don’t have it in us to make the changes we need to make. In other words, we are limited by our own thinking.
Barrier # 2 — This one is a little odd, but I validated it in my book, The No-Fear Entrepreneur. It’s the fear of feeling disloyal. “If I make these changes and experience success, I might leave others behind, which would be wrong.”
Barrier # 3 — A belief that positive life change and success bring a more immense burden.
Barrier # 4 — The fear of outshining others or, as some of our mothers used to say, “Acting too big for your britches.”
3 Questions or an outline of an After Action Report
Question # 1 – What did I do right in 2021? Think about this in the context of personal growth, business/professional development, relationships, and spiritual growth. NOTE: Make sure your positives outnumber your negatives!

Question # 2 – What did I do wrong in 2021? Be brutally honest with yourself, but don’t get involved in self-flagellation or excessive self-criticism. Remember, do your best to ensure that your positives outweigh your negatives.

Question # 3 – What can I do better in 2022? Be crystal clear here. The main reason most people fail to meet any of their New Year’s Resolutions is that they are too broad, too generalized, and have no measurable outcomes attached to them.
Jon Acuff's suggestions:
1. Ninety days from now I will have ______________________________________________.

2. This sounds impossible, but I want to _____________________________________ this year.
3. This is weird, but I want to _____________________________________ in 2022.

Here is a link to the article and Jon Acuff's links to his book and YouTube.