Reframing Resolutions

Written and medically reviewed by Naomi Parrella, MD

What is a resolution? Is it a goal?

If you were a patient coming into my office for the first time, we’d explore what’s behind your goals. Let’s say you want to lose a certain amount of weight. Why? Maybe you want to fit into clothes better and have more confidence, or improve your sleep and have more energy, or feel less knee pain so you can be more active. These reasons are much more powerful than the “goal” of losing XYZ pounds. These are aspirations.

On the journey toward an aspiration, goals are merely milestones along the way. When you frame things this way, you can always reroute, refocus, and keep trending toward your aspiration, no matter what unexpected deviations occur along the way. Put another way: Goals can change! (Aspirations are more constant.) Especially when obstacles arise, goals will often need to change. For example, you can’t meet your goal of lifting weights 3 days a week if you injure your back. But as long as you keep your aspiration in mind (“I want to be fit and strong enough to stay independent as I age”), you can adjust your goals to continue working toward your aspiration.

Reframe Your Resolutions as Aspirations

1. Start by asking yourself: What would make me feel fabulous?
   Losing 50 pounds, for example, would not make you feel fabulous if you lost it due to cancer treatment. What physical or emotional achievement are you seeking through weight loss?
   
2. Keep asking why.
   For example: “I want to lose 50 lbs.” Why? “Because I want to feel fitter?” Why? “Because I want to be able to keep up on walks with my friends/children/dog.” Ah, now we have the aspiration!

3. Eliminate the word “try.”
   You’re going to do and learn from it, even if it doesn’t go as planned! If it doesn’t work out — that’s just a fact. Get curious. Facts are useful. Facts give us something to work with. We can keep learning and getting better over time.

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Naomi Parrella, MD

Dr. Parrella is the Chief Medical Officer at Zero and the Chief of Lifestyle Medicine at Rush University, where she has helped more than 10,000 patients struggling with overweight, obesity, and other metabolic-health conditions. At Rush, she is also the Director of Strategy and Implementation for the Department of Surgery and an associate professor. Dr. Parrella is a highly sought-after speaker and expert consultant for organizations including the NFL, United Airlines, and Google.

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