It’s Easy to Make Them, and Often Easier to Break Them!
By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Research indicates that it is easier to start a behavior than to stop one. So instead of resolving to quit something, instead resolve to doing something else.
Psychologist Susan Albers reminds us to set realistic ‘livable goals. Choosing an unrealistic, unsustainable goal sets the stage for failure. Your resolution should reflect an activity or behavior you can do for the long-term.
Be specific. Vague goals like “exercise more,” “drink less” and “cut back on sugar” are impossible to quantify. Instead, it’s important to set small, actionable goals that are well-defined.
Stay flexible. There can be a downside to setting very specific goals: When you don’t hit the mark, there’s nowhere to hide, and you may end up feeling discouraged or disappointed in yourself.
Identify obstacles. What’s likely to get in the way of your achieving your resolution? You probably already know what your potential pain points are, whether they’re physical obstacles (not having enough time) or emotional obstacles (like fear).
The buddy system. Find a family member, friend or a professional (like a health coach) who can help keep you on track.
Remind yourself. It’s easy to get distracted with life and forget about your resolution. Our minds are busy and active. It’s easy to set a goal and forget it quickly.
Accountability. “Keep data to help you track your progress, but it can also help you on days where it’s not going well.” Looking back over time to see how you’re doing can help keep you motivated.”
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Here are a few easy ideas captured from recruits and their integrity agreements at the Verdugo Fire Academy. Hopefully, to get you started, these will be of value throughout the year says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna:
Respect Yourself! Respect for yourself first, and then respect for others. If you do not respect yourself, you certainly won’t respect others.
Be Positive! Cultivate a positive attitude. If your attitude is negative, you will not succeed. Support and help each other. Firefighting is a team effort and so is life. No one can do it alone — no one!
Here comes the Judge! Do not judge. There is an old saying, “When you spot it, you got it.” What you dislike in others is often something you do not like inside yourself. Give grace and learn a little patience for both you and others.
Gossip is for Insecure People! Do not gossip. If you have an issue with someone or something, the only one who can do something about it is yourself and the other person. Go to that person and discuss it with them, not others.
Own Your Mistakes! If you make a mess, clean it up! When you spill milk, what do you do? You clean it up! And if you don’t, it gets harder to clean up the longer you wait. The same goes when you make a mess with another person. Clean it up and say I’m sorry. Do not wait too long or you risk creating permanent damage. Pride jeopardizes even the deepest relationships.
As you see, these are simple, day-to-day agreements. They work for recruit firefighters, but they apply to all of us, regardless of the job or the position you hold or better yet, the amount of time you have on the job. Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.
Happy New Year!
