🎉 Ah Yes… New Year, New You (Again?)
It seems to be a very Western thing:
When the New Year rolls around, we pause, reflect, and then try to manifest those reflections into concrete goals we’re convinced we’ll absolutely crush this time.
We go all in.
🥗 This is the year of salads.
🏋️ This is the year of gym passes.
🚫 This is the year we swear off things (and people) that don’t “serve us.”
😇 This is the year we’ll be kinder, more patient, more generous, more evolved humans.
And you know what?
For the most part, we’re deeply committed to these goals.
For about…
⏳ 15 to 30 days.
Then something happens.
😬 The Sneaky Pull of the Status Quo
Slowly—almost imperceptibly—we slide back into the way things were.
Not because the old way was great.
Not because we loved it.
But because…
➡️ it was familiar
➡️ it was comfortable enough
➡️ and honestly, it required less effort
Change is work.
Real work.
And this is where most goal-setting conversations fall apart.
🧠 Enter: Force Field Analysis (Yes, It’s Older Than Your Parents)
I want to share a tool developed in the 1940s by psychologist Kurt Lewin called Force Field Analysis (FFA). You may have come across it in leadership, change management, or organizational development circles.
At its core, FFA says this:
We will maintain the status quo until the motivators for change are strong enough and every meaningful barrier is addressed.
Here’s the kicker 👇
Barriers are stronger than motivators.
Even if your motivators wildly outnumber your barriers,
one unaddressed barrier can stop everything.
🩹 The Splinter That Ruins Everything
Think of it this way…
You get a tiny splinter in your finger.
It doesn’t hurt much.
You ignore it.
You’ve got bigger things going on.
But a few days later…
🔥 it’s infected
🔥 it’s throbbing
🔥 it’s suddenly the centre of your universe
That tiny splinter?
That’s an unprepared barrier.
It didn’t seem like much in the context of everything else you were managing—but when it’s the last thing standing between you and your goal?
It feels like Mount Everest.
🏔️ Why Goals Die (And It’s Not Because You’re Weak)
Most goals don’t fail because we lack motivation.
They fail because we didn’t plan for the barriers.
We assumed:
-
“I’ll figure it out when I get there.”
-
“That probably won’t be a big deal.”
-
“I’ll just push through.”
FFA reminds us that hope is not a strategy.
❤️ Don’t Give Up on Goals (The World Needs You Trying)
If past New Year’s resolutions have left you disillusioned—please hear this:
💛 I hope you haven’t given up on wanting to be better.
💛 I hope you haven’t stopped setting goals.
💛 I hope you haven’t decided that “this is just how it is.”
Because life without goals is life without purpose.
And frankly?
The world needs us at our best more than ever.
And God knows… we need to be better.
🚀 Your Call to Action
Before you abandon your next goal, try this:
✍️ Write down:
-
Your goal
-
Your motivators
-
Every barrier you can think of (yes, even the small ones)
Then ask yourself honestly:
“How will I deal with each barrier—before it shows up?”
That’s where real change begins.
✨ Final Thought
If you want to head into this New Year setting goals, I encourage you to explore Force Field Analysis and see if it’s the missing piece between setting goals and actually living them. Here's where you can find out all about it...
https://creately.com/blog/strategy-and-planning/force-field-analysis/
And, if you want to try a completely different approach to how you show up this year, check out my new Visioning 2026 Guide!
https://www.herkycutler.com/joinus
Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a Successful 2026—
A year of intentional change, honest preparation, and meaningful growth.
And remember…
May the Force Field be with you. 💫
