Most 2008 resolutions will fail us.
For those who make promises every New Year that won’t come as a shock.
After all … we are socialized to believe if we resolve it … we’ll do it. Right?
So say revelers every New Year's Eve. Without a doubt … one or two of your top ten determinations … could come to pass. Often resolutions pan out to be empty dreams though. 
According to brain experts … who report that human brains literally work against change.
Working memory is simply too small to store renewal plans until they become habits. Furthermore … the brain is unable to hold or process these newly planned actions. New brain imaging shows how brains erase newly acquired ideas to free working memory space minute by minute for fast flying newly received facts.
The key is to act fast on whatever you resolve, because with each repetition of your New Year plan … the brain rewires for more of the same.
It turns out that pathways to change rarely get you past chasing windmills. That proves the adage that actions speak louder than words … at least for those who do brain based business. It also means our approaches to change need repair.
The key is to setup a foundation for your resolution so that your brain has to do very little work in order to get you from Point A to Point Where-You-Want-to-Be.
For example, if your goal is to "say no more often," the only habit you should need to develop is answering absolutely every proposition with, "Let me get back to you on that." Then you can consult an objective, pre-written list of criteria for determining what your answer to that particular proposal will be and give your answer at that point. You should schedule a review session on your calendar once a week to go over your past decisions and update your criteria worksheet if necessary.
Just saying your goal out loud isn't going to get you anywhere.
Posted by: Marina @ Sufficient Thrust | December 30, 2007 5:11 PM | Permalink to Comment