How to keep those New Year's Resolutions...
The following article has been published in National and Local publications.
Andy Garland is a Registered Psychotherapist and Lecturer at Cardiff University. He discusses how best to plan ahead and approach your New Year's resolutions like a military operation!
He said, ‘The key to success in choosing a resolution and most importantly sticking to it, is that you’re doing it for your benefit first. If others’ also profit from your resolution, then that’s great – just be a little self-indulgent when you choose yours.’
January is a busy time at Andy’s Cardiff practice, and has seen a trend develop over the years’. ‘I can almost predict that emails and phone calls will start-up around 1st January with enquiries about stopping smoking, weight loss, motivation to exercise and a host of other phobias and fears that New Year ‘resolutes’ want to work on.’
So is there a magic technique that will get us to use the membership at the gym that we’ve been paying for, and not using each month? We asked Andy:
‘No magic wand is required to find and maintain your motivation, just a dash of focus and a pinch
of self-belief!
Change in routine or creating a more positive and productive life can often be challenged by resistance. Resistance is just a thought and we have the ability and choice to change our thoughts. Consider this; our thoughts come first, this is then followed by the way we feel, and then we act on these feelings.
An example would be; you get out of bed in the morning and you stub your toe on the bathroom door. Your immediate thought can be either ‘OUCH’ and then you get on with your day, or ‘I can’t believe this has happened to me, I’ve gotten out of the wrong side of the bed today’. The latter can set in motion more opportunities for you to prove your initial thought, and your day will be full of little disasters.
Basically we will manifest what we think about – our thoughts become things.’
‘This is a very exciting concept because if we focus on what we want, there’s more of a chance that we’ll get more of it. And we all like more, especially when it’s good!’
Doctor Wayne Dyer, Psychologist and international best selling author tells us, ‘When we change the way we look at things, the way we look at things change.’ A clever play on words maybe, though it is a concept that can truly change your approach and success in life, Andy tells us.

Andy shares with us his top 5 Principles to Succeed in keeping those New Year resolutions…
1. Make it simple – don’t complicate your goals. If you simplify what you want to achieve, you’ll be more likely to stick to your goals and find success.
2. Be self-indulgent – start with what it is that you want to achieve. For example; a partner has told you that you need to lose weight, first of all your resolution may want to be, get rid of partner! Though seriously, the motivation needs to start with you. Think the change that you want to see in your life.
3. Keep it real – if your expectations are that you’ll stop smoking, lose 2 stone in weight and commit to 3 sessions at the gym each week, you’ll overload yourself. Keeping it real can ensure your focus doesn’t become diluted and you’re more likely to be a success.
4. Tell everyone you know – okay this may be a controversial one, though you can find motivation to accomplish your resolutions by telling friends, family and colleagues. They can become your own personal life coaches and keep you on track.
5. Enjoy life – life is about experiences. Allow yourself a reward occasionally; this will motivate you further and maintain your enjoyment of life. It has to be fun.
We asked Andy what words of wisdom he would give to all of you planning New Year resolutions, ‘It’s simple, YOU CAN DO IT.’
Andy Garland is based at his private practice on Cathedral Road in Cardiff. He can be contacted on 0800 612 2878 or visit his website www.andygarland.co.uk.