Come the start of a year, most of us have got into the habit of making resolutions. Losing weight and eating healthier are amongst the most popular resolutions. So it’s a common sight to see enthusiastic well intentioned hoards signing up to gym memberships, yoga and fitness classes, purchasing all varieties of dieting and healthy lifestyle books. Yet by mid-January between 40-50% struggle to maintain their resolutions to be fit and healthy.
You may be simultaneously heartened and shocked to hear that, other than your intention to start the annual resolution cycle, your well-intentioned actions to join a gym, lose weight, etc. become elusive and resigned to failure.
(Before you jump up and down screaming denial, let me explain why there is only a 20% chance of you succeeding in your resolution).
The primary reason is your mental resolve. Good, well-meaning intentions do not equate to strong mental determination to see it through to the end. In other words, you need to be mentally committed and prepared to handle the inevitable stresses and discomforts involved in your goal. Saying it differently, you need to first change your mind before you can change your body. Just as in the old saying, “you can drag the horse to water but you cannot make it drink it unless it wants to”. Therefore, it’s not the dieting, gym membership, those zoomba classes or the piles of healthy eating books that give the result you want, it’s your mind.
To start the ball rolling:
- Make a list of what you will gain by having a healthy eating lifestyle? Consider what it means for you and how you can inspire other around you, your family and wider social circle.
- Now consider what would it be the likely outcome if you continues on your current lifestyle?
Comparing these two lists, you will be able to see what you will gain from making and resolving to change. - On this journey of making the lists, you may recognise niches which are holding you back from achieving your resolution. This is perfectly fine, it just means that there are some historic hurdles in your life that need resolution before you can make progress.
A qualified psychodynamic therapist, like myself, can help you safely navigate and confidently resolve these hurdles, freeing you to successfully achieve your healthy eating resolution.