Did you make any New Year’s resolutions this year?

You know the ones I mean, to lose weight, give up alcohol, get fit…..

The list goes on and on.  And great resolutions they are too. If we stuck to them the world would no doubt be a much better, healthier and fitter place.

Usually it’s about now that willpower starts to fail and all those really great resolutions fall by the wayside.  That cold glass of Chardonnay seems to call to us and the gym just doesn’t seem to have the same power of attraction. In fact, with such cold weather around no-one is going to notice the extra layers of fat under the extra layers of jumpers so why bother?

Whatever the resolution and however committed we were at the time we made them, there comes a point where our willpower is tested and many of us are found wanting.

So what’s the secret of willpower? How does it work and how can we get a bit more?

Well, there are many answers out there, from hypnosis and the power of suggestion to bribery and blackmail. We’ve got one you might want to try and it won’t cost you a penny.

Let’s take giving up chocolate for example.

Write a list of all the reasons why giving up chocolate is a good idea for you personally and anything it might support or enable.  The list might run something like: be healthier, lose weight, save money, sleep better (chocolate contains caffeine), more self-respect, ….

Take a look at your list and highlight the one thing on there that seems to appeal to you most strongly. Let’s say your answer is

Be healthier

Ask yourself, why is that important to you? You might answer

Because I want to be around to see my grandchildren

Then ask again, why is that important to you?

Whatever your answer is keep asking yourself the same question again and again till you bottom out – that is, you arrive at a point where you think

It just is!

– or until you come up with an answer you’ve already come up with before.

Now you’ve arrived at something that is quite strong for you. It may be a core value or belief that you hold.

Imagine now that the voice in your head that says

It’s just one bit of chocolate

is a little demon or maybe quite a big demon depending on how loud the voice is.

And imagine a new voice – that of the ideal you, an angel even. This voice tells you why it’s important for you to eat healthily and links it to that core value or belief.

If you replace the demon voice with the angel voice you can bolster your willpower and motivate yourself to achieve all you want to achieve in the coming year.

If you’re interested in motivation take a look at our Line Management Programme.

All this typing has made me hungry – now where’s my chocolate?

Happy New Year!