January may not be the official month of “Unlikely Goal Achievement,” but it is certainly the month of the most failed goal plans. As January progresses, newly proclaimed yoga fanatics and marathon contenders drop like flies at the pressure of goal expectations and the burden on their mood. Challenging goals seem to demand an endless energy source but perhaps maintaining positive emotions is more influential.
Ever met someone who is so enthusiastic at the sound of a challenging goal that everyone near muttered, “That person is WAY too excited?” Likely, many critical onlookers considered pursuing the same goal but became excited in the goal until much later. The difference between the reactions is in how instant or delayed the excitement arrives.
Brand new research suggests that the high-excitable (high-activated positive mood) person who reacts to a new goal with a positive mood has much higher goal-achievement ratings (Bindl, Parker, Totterdell, and Hagger-Johnson, 2012). High-activated positive mood includes feeling energized, enthused, and inspired when a new goal is identified. The research implies that proactive goal management contains envisioning, planning, enacting, and reflecting characteristics. Likewise, individuals with low levels of positive mood when identifying goals contain high levels of thinking about being proactive.
As January sneaks by taking with it a goal or two, try surrounding New Year Resolutions with some hopeful energy and enthusiasm. It might make all the difference in forming a perfect Downward Dog or completing a first marathon.
Bindl, U. K., Parker, S. K., Totterdell, P., & Hagger-Johnson, G. (2012). Fuel of the self-starter: how mood relates to proactive goal. Journal of Applied Psychology, 97(1), 134-150. doi: 10.1037/a0024368
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