Just the act of setting a personal goal implies that we are anticipating a change in our lives. Change does not come easily for we human beings. We resist change. The more readily we recognize our resistance, the more easily we will be able to achieve our goals. Only about 20% of people who think they need to change an unhealthy habit are actually ready to do so. Procrastination is the best friend of resistance!


IT IS NORMAL TO SET A GOAL, TO WANT TO CHANGE, AND YET TO RESIST IT AT THE SAME TIME!

Here are some tips on goal-setting that have come out of research on the subject recently:

• Make your goal as specific as possible. Avoid abstract goals.
• Spend time imagining with as much detail as you can what it will be like when you have mastered that goal. How will things be different than they are now? How will you be feeling better? What will you be doing? What will you be wearing? How will you be acting? How will others see you and act toward you then? This builds the "desirability" side of change, which increases your motivation to follow through when the change part becomes difficult.
• Set small short-term goals toward your final goal, small steps that you know you can achieve right now. NOTE: That only applies to situations which do not require immediate attention, such as threats of physical violence, etc.
• Be honest with yourself if you make excuses not to carry out the tasks related to the new goal. Facing the excuses head-on is an important step along the way to achieving your goals.
• Make a clear and realistic plan for meeting that goal, which brings into play your family schedule, your work life, your rituals of daily living (including television-watching, etc.). Let others know of your plan and engage their support. Once you have made your goal public, it will be a lot more difficult (and humbling)to back out. Sometimes that kind of pressure is good!