Conquer Your Inner Bitch: The Science of Finishing What You Start

Why do most people not reach their goals?

For most people goals are important.

We need something to strive toward — a promotion, a raise, a better job, a fitter body or a healthier mind — otherwise we stagnate, lose our zest and literally risk ending up in prison Newberry & Duncan (2001).

What’s even more interesting however, is that goals allows our imagination to work for us — it allows us to visualize a future, that we want to strive towards, and this in turn makes us act in more pro-social and empathetic ways Gaesser (2013).

Goal-setting is all well and good, but it is not enough. Have you ever wondered why most people have a hard time keeping their new years resolution? According to best-selling author Jon Acuff, 92% of new years resolutions fail.

Is this a special case?

Is there something special about new years resolutions that make them more prone to failure?

No.

Why do most goals fail?

The reason why so many people fail to keep the promises they make themselves at the turn of the year, is that there is no plan to get to where you are now, to the place where you want to be, and where you have fulfilled your…