Yes, it is that time of the year when we examine our lives, our bodies, our decisions and relationships and ask ourselves questions, many questions. The need and pressure to make a change on January 1st each year can be daunting, overwhelming and sometimes not attainable.
This morning I was reading through my morning briefing from The New York Times and came across a great article, The Only Way to Keep Your Resolutions written by DAVID DeSTENO and posted online on The New York Times Sunday Review on December 29, 2017.
Dr. DeSteno shares tremendous insight on how our minds work when faced with resolutions that tend to require deprivation, self-control or delayed gratification. He writes,
“New Year’s Eve is a time to set goals: to eat better, to save more money, to work harder, to drink less. It’s Day 1 on the road to a “new you.” But this road, as we all know, is difficult to follow. Humans are notoriously bad at resisting temptation, especially (as research confirms) if we’re busy, tired or stressed. By Jan. 8, some 25 percent of resolutions have fallen by the wayside. And by the time the year ends, fewer than 10 percent have been fully kept.”
The article is well worth the time to read and the take always will prove more valuable than a Google search on How to Lose Weight in 30 Days. Read the full article here and enjoy this closing paragraph:
“So as 2018 commences, take more time to cultivate these emotions. Reflect on what you’re grateful to have been given. Allow your mind to step into the shoes of those in need and feel for them. Take pride in the small achievements on the path to your goals. Doing so will help ensure that every future New Year’s Eve will have more to celebrate than to regret.”
Happy New Year all and thanks for being part of my pastaonthefloor family!
Special thanks to The New York Times and the author of the article, David DeSteno. Dr. DeSteno is a professor of psychology at Northeastern University, and is the author of the forthcoming book “Emotional Success: The Power of Gratitude, Compassion, and Pride.”
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