A New Approach To A New Year

It's a new year, and for many people, an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and give attention to being a better version of themselves. It's a resolution season, defined as the act of resolving or determining upon an action, course of action, method, procedure, to lead to self betterment.

 Over 40% of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions. And these intentions of self improvement typically fall into one of the following categories compiled from Statistic Brain: 

Top 10 New Year’s Resolution for 2017

1. Lose weight/ healthier eating
2. Self improvements
3. Better Financial decisions
4. Quit Smoking
5. Do more exciting things
6. Spend more time with family/friends
7. Work out more often
8. Learn something new on my own
9. Do more good deeds for others
10. Find the love of my life

A University of Scranton research doc suggests that just 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goals.  That is probably why the other 60% of Americans don't make resolutions -- they have learned they are doomed to failure or frustration from the start. But what if you took a completely different approach to 2019... what if instead of focusing on an area of weakness or needed improvement, you concentrated to become great at something you are already good at?

Enter the research and genius of Dr. Don Clifton, one of the early pioneers of Strengths Psychology.  Back in the 50's, Clifton noticed most theory, study, and research in psychology was geared on the abnormalities, dysfunctions, or negative traits of human behavior.  Seeing this imbalance, he began what turned into over a half century of research on what makes people succeed or achieve excellence. So, what did he find?

Simply this - successful people understand their talents and strengths and build their lives upon them. Rather than trying to eradicate weaknesses or manage their mediocrity, they majored on areas of talent and turned them into strengths. This is why the traditional model of New Year resolutions is demotivating and frustrating to so many. Resolutions often boil down to an annual punch of the “refresh button” to improve an area of weakness or develop greater competency in a skill or talent we have low capacity for improvement.

What if we capitalized on something we already enjoy and do well?  What if we now applied time, resources, and energy to move to a greater level of competence or excellence in that area? If this sounds appealing, you are ready to start your own personal journey into the world of turning talents into strengths!