Affirm Favourite

Blame the positive psychology movement for the fact that adults now spend inordinate amounts of time pinning, re-gramming and tattooing pithy memes.

- David Goding

But trite phrases such as dream it, do it are less helpful than they sound – especially when it comes to the major life changes that often anchor new year resolutions.

“A new year brings a sense of optimism, and with it an opportunity to start again more successfully. It is an exciting time… for a while, anyway,” says Blake Beattie, author of Bullseye – the Ultimate Guide to Achieving Your Goals, and the founder of international Pay it Forward Day.

“Fast forward to the end of January. Most people’s goals have fallen by the wayside. Why? Because time just seems to speed by; other commitments and responsibilities get in the way and old routines and patterns surface, rendering the changes we wanted to make ineffective.”

According to research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, only eight percent of people fulfil their new year resolutions. Yet we’re actually designed to want change. What gives?

THE SCIENCE OF SELF-TALK

Looking at yourself in the eye in front of the mirror (or looking inward to your mind’s eye) and repeating positive affirmations is a common ploy among self-improvers.

“Positive self-talk helps people to achieve good results in many areas, including completing simple and complex tasks, improving productivity, winning sporting events and boosting recovery and rehabilitation,” says psychologist Yuliya Richard.

“Individuals who can tell themselves ‘Yes, it is really uncomfortable, but I can do it; it might be really hard and usually I run away from such situations, but this time I will give it a go’, are more likely to take risks and overcome fears.”

Well-constructed affirmations work on multiple levels, says psychologist Lana Hall.