Temporal landmarks inspire us to reflect on our lives in a big-picture way motivating us to set goals for better behavior.
Researchers describe this phenomenon as the fresh-start effect. According to the fresh-start effect, people are likelier to take action toward a goal after temporal landmarks. Psychologists studying the fresh-start effect show that it works because highlighting meaningful occasions creates a clean slate for people to make better decisions.
This month is one of those important temporal landmarks. A new year, a new beginning, an opportunity to choose:
- What matters to me? What am I willing to change or stop so that what matters to me gets my attention?
- What important thing have I been neglecting? Health perhaps?
- What actions am I willing to take to turn my resolutions into actions and my actions into habits that extend beyond Valentine’s Day?
The initial results of my Pivot are excellent. I feel I have much greater clarity regarding the next 3-5 years.. 