NoMoreResolutions

I gave up on resolutions several years ago. I realized that resolutions weren't for me. Now that I know about the change model (See <http://www.stevenmsmith.com/articles/satir_change_model.htm> for a lovely picture of the model), I understand why resolutions don't work. I need a transforming idea about how to change my life, not a resolution to do so. How about you? How do you make changes in your life? -- JohannaRothman 2004.12.27

Is it the transforming I idea you are missing or the foreign element? I have adopted the NLP slogan "Change only comes at moments of crisis" so it could be argued that you need the pain (growth) first before you can have a change. Ideas are cheap (I have lots of them) but the experience needed to really use them is what I am often missing. --KenEstes 2004.12.28

I don't always make resolutions at the New Year, but I often make *choices*.

Some how choices feel different to me than resolutions.

A resolution feels like strong medicine that I know I should take, even if I don't want to and it tastes bad.

A choice is....well... a choice.

So I could resolve to lose 5 pounds (no comments from the peanut gallery, please) or I could choose to eat a balance diet and increase my level of activity.

Esther 12.28.04

How do I make changes in my life? Nearly every day I have "stretch" moments, moments when I can choose to do the safe/old thing or I can choose to do something new or different.

Sometimes I stretch, and sometimes I don't.

When I stretch, permanent changes happen in my life.

I was reluctant to make the less safe choice for most of my life. I avoided noticing the stretch opportunities. In the last couple of years I've become more aware of the stretch moments, and I'm more likely to do something new. I've made more important changes in my life in the last couple of years than in the preceding twenty.

--AdrianSegar 2004.12.28

Part of the Satir Change Model is that change happens one person at a time, one day at a time, one choice at a time. I think the model of the New Year's Resolution tends to undermine us in doing the real choice-to-choice work of change. Consequently, I made a resolution on New Year's Day 1954 never to make another New Year's resolution. I've kept that one for 50 years. - JerryWeinberg 2004.12.28

I don't make New Year's resolutions. I have always had trouble with people becoming excited about "the new year." Where I work, we become excited on 1 October each year - the new fiscal year for the government - now that is exciting stuff! ;-)

I have found that I make choices in my journal writing. I recently chose to spend 30 minutes a day on three different projects at home. I am doing pretty well on this. I spend the 30 minutes on at least two of the three projects every day. I guess that I go three for three about 75% of the time.

Discussing things like this with myself in my journal and then writing out my choice explicitly in the journal helps me follow through on my choices. I can also at any day choose to change my previous choices. That too works well for me.

DwaynePhillips 31 December 2004

Although I don't make resolutions, I do sometimes make rough plans for my continuing education. If you do, how about starting a ContinuingEducation page? - JerryWeinberg 2005.01.09

Althought I don't make the typical new years' resolution, the end of the calendar year, holiday time ends up being useful for me to think about things I might like to change. Sometimes around holiday time I decide to change something. The time of year is convenient, not a requirement.

-- JimBullock, 2005.01.09

Updated: Monday, January 10, 2005