Here you are at the New Year again, resolving to go about losing a lot of weight—sensibly this time. What weight-loss goals have you set for yourself?
Have you only set performance goals?
“I’m going to lose 40 pounds.”
“I’m going to lose all this weight by spring.”
Have you only set performance goals related to pounds and weight?
What about changing eating habits?
“I will cut out all junk food snacks.”
And how about the less obvious causes of what makes you fat?
“I will stop being a doormat and stand up straight and tall.”
“I don’t have to be the life of the party—all the time.”
Everyone who makes a New Year’s Resolution usually does it by having a performance goal in mind.
But what about learning goals?
These would seem more to the point when it comes to doing something that is obviously hard for you to do.
And learning goals make it easier to keep a resolution.
“I will learn what is the best way for me to shed those extra pounds.”
“I will see why I have such a problem with food and make plans to do something about it.”
As you can see, one big difference between performance goals and learning goals is that learning goals go along with who you are and what you can currently accomplish. They are more flexible and forgiving than performance goals. And this is just what you need when you want to lose weight and keep a resolution.
