Why Resolutions Fail and What to Do Instead

New Year’s resolutions are like the short-lived fireworks at your neighbor’s party: a lot of buildup, a quick burst, and then… nothing.

Over 88% of resolutions fail, and honestly, that number feels generous. Every January, gyms overflow with optimistic newcomers, only to return to normal by February. We promise ourselves big changes—lose weight, save more money, quit bad habits—but by mid-January, most of us have already abandoned ship.

Why? Resolutions are flawed from the start. They’re often vague, pressure-driven, and based on guilt rather than purpose.

When they fail, they leave you feeling worse than before, reinforcing beliefs like:
- “I’m not disciplined enough.”
- “I’ll never be good enough.”
- “Why even bother?”

But here’s the encouraging part: you don’t have to repeat this cycle.

Instead of setting yourself up for disappointment with short-term resolutions, you can chart a new course—a Dream Life Blueprint. This approach uses a proven, research-backed method called Intentional Change Theory (ICT), developed by Dr. Richard Boyatzis.

ICT (or as I call it, the Dream Life Blueprint) is different. It’s not about what you “should” do; it’s about who you truly want to become. It enables you to make long-term, purposeful changes aligned with your values, strengths, and aspirations.

Here’s what makes it different:
- Instead of guilt-driven goals, you create a vision for your dream life.
- Instead of focusing on fixing weaknesses, you leverage your strengths.
- Instead of going it alone, you lean on supportive relationships.

This newsletter series will guide you through the exact steps to create your Dream Life Blueprint over the next six weeks. Each week, I’ll break down one key phase of the process:

Week 1 (today): Introduction to the Dream Life Blueprint.
Week 2: Discover a vision of your ideal self.
Week 3: Assessing your current self, your unique strengths.
Week 4: Bridging the gap with a practical learning agenda.
Week 5: Experimenting with new habits and behaviors that align with your vision.
Week 6: Cultivate supportive relationships that keep you moving forward.

This process changed my life. In 2015, I was stressed, unhealthy, and not showing up for the people I loved. I used my Dream Life Blueprint to imagine my ideal life—and over the years, I worked to make that vision my reality. Today, I’m living the life I dreamed of back then.

The beauty of this method is that it’s not about dramatic, overnight changes. It’s about taking small, consistent, intentional steps toward a meaningful and fulfilling life.

So, let’s leave the cycle of broken resolutions behind. Together, we’ll create a vision—and a plan—that works for you.

Stay tuned for Part 2: Defining Your Ideal Self next week. I’ll guide you through creating a powerful vision for your future and share a worksheet to help you get started.

Here’s to making this year the one where real, lasting change begins!

— Jeff


P.S: We usually release the newsletter on Wednesdays, but during the holiday season, we’ll be sharing it on both Mondays and Wednesdays to keep the momentum going and to help you start your week strong.