Actions V. Thoughts: Helping You Achieve Your New Years Resolution

Every year, January 1st marks the beginning of a new chapter for millions of people around the world. It's the time to reflect on the past and envision a better version of oneself for the future. New Year's resolutions range from adopting healthier habits to making major life changes, but for many, the resolutions never make it past the first week. The reason for this is often the lack of action to accompany the thoughts.

Turning thoughts into action requires an interdependent relationship with oneself. Our behaviors and thought process ultimately affect our outcomes. As Maya Angelou perfectly captured, "In order to win, we pay with energy and effort and discipline. If we lose, we pay with disappointment, discontent, and lack of fulfillment." Self-efficacy research supports this notion, indicating that people regulate their behavior and effort expenditure according to their perceived capability.

To help achieve our goals, the author proposes a "D.E.E.P" approach:

Develop: Grow and act on your interest in whatever it is you want to do. Adjust your mindset and reconsider your approach as if you have already completed the goal or succeeded.

Energy: Recognize your performance or lack thereof; it's a battle of actionable versus idle.

Effort: Continue trying to advance in your goal, changing it to an achievement. No matter the effort, big or small, "nothing beats a failure but a try."

Progress: Albert Einstein said, "...to keep your balance you must keep moving." Progress is progress, whether big and grandiose or small and minute.

In conclusion, self-efficacy is the key to converting New Year's resolutions into tangible achievements. By developing our interests, expending appropriate amounts of energy and effort, and accepting progress and results as they come, we can achieve our goals and become better versions of ourselves.

#mentalhealth #lifestyle #wellness #progress #new

References

Maddux, J. E., Sherer, M., & Rogers, R. W. (1982). Self-efficacy expectancy and outcome expectancy: Their relationship and their effects on behavioral intentions. Cognitive therapy and research, 6, 207-211.