Want Balance? Here’s How to Make that Resolution Stick

I will be more balanced.

Does that sound familiar? It may be one of the most popular resolutions among executives. Many of us make this resolution year after year and some of us have gotten to the point where we don’t even bother.

We say life happens or that other priorities get in the way. Thankfully, these are NOT the reasons that this resolution doesn’t work. It’s how we’ve framed the resolution that’s the problem – it is uninspiring. It is when we are inspired that we achieve significant results. It is when we are inspired that we transform.

If you really want balance in your life, here are some ways to powerfully re-frame your resolution.

Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.

I will be more balanced is actually focused on what I don’t want. I will be more balanced is saying to me I’m not balanced, which in and of itself is not inspiring. Worse, I will be more balanced instructs my brain to point out every time and every evidence that I am not balanced. It doesn’t point out any of the times I am balanced and it certainly doesn’t point out any opportunities to practice being balanced—because that isn’t what it is instructed to do. At the end of the day, when I reflect on how I did, I instruct my brain to focus on everything I did wrong, so I don’t see anything I did right. I feel like a failure and I berate myself for not being balanced.

We are torturing ourselves! We’re not in a state of thankfulness, wonder, vision, purpose or possibility (which brings about transformation) and the downward spiral begins.

Take a look at your resolutions and make sure they are focused on what you want. Say your resolution out loud. Notice how you feel. You either feel inspired or you don’t!

In this resolution, we can do without the word more.

Feel free to refer to my Forward Thinking^TM Reminder Focus on What You Want, Not Want You Don’t Want

Mary J. Lore is the founder and president of Managing Thought, LLC, which helps individuals and organizations develop self-awareness and change how they think and conduct business to attain long-lasting success. She is an internationally recognized thought leader, public speaker, executive mentor, and author of the multiple award-winning book Managing Thought: Think Differently. Think Powerfully. Achieve New Levels of Success and audio book Managing Thought: How Do Your Thoughts Rule Your World? and stars in the Live Workshop DVD. Mary also serves as an expert resource for Vistage, served as a Chair from 2002 – 2010, and was a member during the 1990s when she served as a CPA, business turnaround expert, and entrepreneur. Information on books, DVDs, keynotes, workshops, coaching, e-columns, podcasts, and on-line tools can be found at www.managingthought.com.

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