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Resolutions : Why is change so hard?

boston.com — Professionals who help people make changes in their lives suggest that the anatomy of change is determined not by one's surroundings, but one's mindset. Beginning with small goals or steps usually leads to a bigger payoff later, they say. And trying to make a change is easier with support from a cheery group of friends, family, or co-workers

Who dugg this? Made popular Jan 3, 2009

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  • NathanCH, on 01/03/2009, -1/+41I changed my resolution from 1024 x 768 to 1640 x 1280. It's so much better.

    Oh... I see.
  • WriterSD, on 01/03/2009, -4/+34The only resolution I made this year was to eat more bacon. :)
  • HerRedRing, on 01/03/2009, -1/+30Right click -> Properties.
  • enochthewalker, on 01/03/2009, -1/+19This is actually what I thought the story was about before I clicked. :(
  • gbudavid, on 01/03/2009, -0/+14My resolution is to have my house paid off and RETIRE
  • tgc1, on 01/03/2009, -1/+13Because humans lives do not revolve around what year it is. You don't change who you are just because the number on the calendar increases by one. That is not sufficient motivation. It's a new year, but it's the same cycle as the many years before it. New years resolutions are fun and all, but there's no difference in deciding to change your life on the 2nd Tuesday in October than the 1st of January.
  • meean, on 01/03/2009, -0/+11Because it's made out of metal!
  • PaperKutter, on 01/03/2009, -0/+10wow, already? it's only been a couple days....what a beast!!
  • Feep, on 01/03/2009, -2/+11My resolution is to not keep my resolution.

    OH SHI--
  • divinediva, on 01/03/2009, -2/+10It's so hard to change yourself .
  • outoforder, on 01/03/2009, -1/+9Because being miserable is so much easier.
  • lebondarken, on 01/03/2009, -0/+6But... More Bacon...
  • DrEames, on 01/03/2009, -1/+7I salute you. I thought that title was unpunnable.
  • EdGasket, on 01/04/2009, -0/+6I made this joke yesterday at lunch with some friends and it bombed (obviously), so I then I said my New Years resolution was to make fewer geek/computer/internet meme jokes and remarks in the "real world".

    About 5 minutes later, someone said "it's too wide, it won't fit in" (referring to someone trying to park a car outside). I immediately said "That's what she said", thereby breaking my resolution.
  • redwolfwalker, on 01/03/2009, -0/+6The guy sleeping on the sofa is an astronaut?
  • NoLibertarians, on 01/03/2009, -2/+7Did that when I was 50, trust me you Will enjoy it !!
  • layzice, on 01/04/2009, -0/+5I'd settle for a little more creativity in the sexist/racist/homophobic comments. At least make it interesting to read.
  • carlonchox911, on 01/03/2009, -1/+5What the hell is 1640*1280? That's not even 5:4!
  • mpn401, on 01/03/2009, -0/+4But...IT'S BACOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!
  • keegangrayson, on 01/03/2009, -0/+4"Professionals who help people make changes in their lives suggest that the anatomy of change is determined not by one's surroundings, but one's mindset."

    The "professionals" are only saying this so they can take your money. If you can change yourself, you don't need to pay them. And even if it were true, change of environment can easily change mindset. I moved 12 hours away and stopped every single drug addiction I had cold turkey. I didn't have any connects and I just stopped.
  • TigerStar337, on 01/03/2009, -1/+5I just bought a book on procrastination. I will start reading it tomorrow.
  • reamofpaper, on 01/03/2009, -0/+4I resolved to be less grumpy... but screw that
  • blktooth420, on 01/03/2009, -1/+4Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
  • HyperJack, on 01/03/2009, -1/+4@gitr Yep :(

    I thought it was gonna be an article about changing display resoltuions on Linux.
    That can be a a ***** nightmare sometimes.
  • DyceFreak, on 01/03/2009, -0/+3I'm definitely more worried about my heart than my lungs when eating bacon..

    but im most worried about running out of bacon.
  • Cheesasaurus, on 01/04/2009, -0/+3My resolution is not to have a resolution.

    Divide by zero error!
  • lazybuoy, on 01/03/2009, -0/+3An object at rest stays at rest ...
  • keegangrayson, on 01/04/2009, -0/+2@Renton Not everyone uses Ubuntu... or even Gnome.
  • RickyBarnes1960, on 01/04/2009, -0/+2Ironically, change isn't hard at all. Change happens continuously whether you wish it or not. You and everyone else, everything else, is changing. The question becomes, how much control can you acquire over the change that occurs and in what direction do you want it to happen?

    It's a bit of a misnomer to say "Something's never change". Actually, they do. We simply become apathetic to many changes simply because they happen too frequently for us to absorb - we blank out - and far too often does change occur against the direction we wish it to. Again, we blank out.

    On the topic of "resolutions", we simply have to decide how long we will continue to let change happen with little to no input from us on its direction. It's true, sometimes it gives us happiness to let go of control and sometimes it brings us happiness to take more control than ever before. You have to own up to the fact you will never have total control, perhaps even not most of the control over your life.

    The question then becomes - what makes you happy and how long will it take for you to do what's necessary to have it?

    Your heartbeat is a clock ticking whose spring is only wound once.
  • gitrplaya4u, on 01/03/2009, -1/+3It's sad isn't it?
  • Vital8, on 01/04/2009, -0/+2because its made out of metal?
  • mharroun, on 01/03/2009, -1/+3Because its something that you must commit to over a long period of time, and over this period you must fight your former self and perhaps the world around you. Even if you do over come those obsticals, sometimes the world hits you to hard for you to stay on your path and after every failure it seems more and more pointless to try again.
  • Spoomeister, on 01/04/2009, -0/+2What's that on the box - what's it say - I CAN'T READ!!!!

    OhboyOhboyOhboyomnomnomnomnomnom

    IT'S BACON!!!!!
  • Cheesasaurus, on 01/04/2009, -0/+2You should make a resolution to have more heart attacks, just to hedge your bets.
  • coldkodiak, on 01/03/2009, -1/+3seems more homogeneous at times...

  • dtfinch, on 01/03/2009, -2/+4baby steps to the treadmill
    baby steps past the treadmill and to the refrigerator
  • Harbinger67, on 01/03/2009, -1/+3The only reason change is hard is because you don't want it badly enough.
  • lovemorgul, on 01/03/2009, -1/+3I wish he would link to the original images when they're from public sources like NASA .
  • giveaphuk, on 01/04/2009, -0/+2I decided to give up smoking two weeks before new years that way when the clock ticked over i would be feeling much better about the whole quitting process. It worked really well and I am looking forward to a whole NEW year as a non-smoker! (at least until next new year when i will reassess if i want to be a smoker, which i right now doubt will happen)
  • Darkyuubi, on 01/04/2009, -0/+1Wow...I thought this article was going to be about why it is so hard to change screen resolutions or something...

    Its late.
  • deweyhewson, on 01/03/2009, -1/+2There is no need for some huge in-depth analysis of this. It is a simple principle:

    When a wheelbarrow continues going along the same path, it wears a rut in the ground, and the deeper it gets the harder it is to get it out. Continuing to do the same things day after day (and nearly everyone does) has the same effect on our lives, and we get stuck in a rut.

    The best way to achieve change is create a sudden change in path. It's difficult and unpleasant, but anything else makes it to easy to just continue on the same path.
  • lebondarken, on 01/03/2009, -2/+3This year I lost 50 lbs and quit smoking. I think I got a pretty good head start.
  • womentobeauty, on 01/05/2009, -0/+1I want to be a better person than in the last year and travel more. New year means that I will be elder a year.
  • soondot, on 01/04/2009, -0/+1I actually thought this article had to do with how people find it hard changing their current SDTV to HDTV. Geeky as charged.
  • gfxlonghorn, on 01/04/2009, -0/+1I have kept 2 resolutions, and I think the only reason I was able to was the endorphins. First time it was for running, and the second time is was for working out. Although the second one was something I decided I wanted to do around my birthday(mid year). Both turned out amazingly... don't think I have the will to do it again though.
  • ashthecarcrash, on 01/04/2009, -0/+1I'd imagine many gyms are rubbing their hands together right now after all the new memberships poured in from the 'get fit resolution' crowd. I always wonder exactly how long they stick to it before forgetting about the whole thing.
  • Renton, on 01/04/2009, -1/+2@Hyper Jack
    System>Prefrences>Screen Resolution
  • SilverStandard, on 01/03/2009, -1/+2Barry can bring change.
  • mrmaroon, on 01/03/2009, -2/+3But according to research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, eating more bacon could increase the risk of developing a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

    I wouldn't want that to happen to you!
  • Tenbatsu404, on 01/05/2009, -0/+1Lame article is lame.
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