EP #1616: Making New Year's Resolutions You'll Keep For Ultimate Self-Care

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While some individuals can follow through with New Year's resolutions, research shows that certain people are more susceptible to failure.The new year is a time when many people make promises to "do better" or "work harder."

While some individuals can follow through with these resolutions, research shows that certain people are more susceptible to failure. For instance, people who don't like exercising or eating healthy and who may be in recovery from an addiction will fall off the wagon when they've had a close encounter with someone who gives them grief. 

Mark Goulston, MD, author of Talking to Crazy: How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life, says there are ways to combat both the negative people and the tendency to fail.

It's a very simple plan. Take a sheet of paper and put a line down the middle. On the left side, list the people who drain the life out of you. On the right side, list all the people who give you energy. Then, make a commitment for 30 days (and eventually for a lifetime) to minimize your exposure to the people on the left and maximize the time you spend with the people on the right. 

A key part of the success of this plan is to thank the people on the right. 

Dr. Goulston explains the three parts of a "power thank you." When you contact the recipient, take these steps:

1. "You did this for me." (be specific)
2. "You went out of your way."
3. Explain what it personally means to you. 

Listen in as Dr. Goulston shares more ideas for keeping those resolutions and minimizing the negative people in your life.