Readiness: New Year Resolutions

INSIGHTS FROM OUR CEO

Are you thinking about diving into some New Year’s goals for 2024? Well, you’re not alone. Striving toward and successfully reaching goals have long been considered essential aspects of human well-being (Oscarsson et al., 2020). Over half of us are resolution-makers, but only half of those folks are actually successful in their resolutions. So, this year, we are examining the psychological strategies that can help us see our goals come to fruition. We’re throwing it back to Psych 101 with the Transtheoretical Model of Change, a fancy term for the stages of getting stuff done: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. 

Before you map out your game plan, consider where, when, and how your goals will be achieved. At the same time, reflect upon why you want to achieve the desired change. Next decide if you’re going for an Approach-Oriented goal, for example, “I’m gonna crush that 5-mile run every week.” Or, are you going for an Avoidance-Oriented goal, for example, maybe you’re waving goodbye to unhealthy habits. The stats say you’re more likely to win with the Approach-Oriented goal (Oscarsson et al., 2020). Now, when the action phase hits (usually a few weeks into January), turn your desire into a reality. It’s not just about wanting it, it’s about doing it. Research tells us that the desire to change alone is not a predictor of success. Thus we must take action and maintain. Some more predictors of successful outcomes include self-efficacy of change, self-efficacy of maintenance, and readiness to change (Norcross, 2002). In other words, keep believing that you can change and keep believing that you can maintain the path you are on. Most importantly, be ready to embrace the journey you are undergoing. Stay away from wishful thinking, self-blame, and threat minimization. Successful resolvers use self-liberation, stimulus control, reinforcement management, positive thinking, and avoidance strategies to keep their resolutions (Norcross, 2002). Lastly, don’t play the lone wolf – share your goals. Turns out, even a bit of support goes a long way. Cheers to a year of goal-crushing! 

 

Elizabeth Morris, M.A.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

---

Phone: 336-761-0764 ext. 1011

Email: elizabeth@fmrt.org 

---

Agency Spotlight: Law Enforcement Officers of America  

In our January Agency Spotlight, we’re extending our gratitude to all safety-sensitive employers and employees for their unwavering dedication and hard work. Your commitment and sacrifices day in and day out do not go unnoticed. We appreciate and acknowledge the resilience and courage you exhibit in the line of duty to make our communities safe. Thank you for trusting us to serve you, as we trust you to serve and protect us. Here’s to a year filled with successful endeavors, continued collaboration, and the unwavering commitment that defines our law enforcement agencies and safety-sensitive professionals! 

Our new episode of the Mind Matters podcast launches this Friday, March 1st. Join us for a conversation with your host Elizabeth and our Business Development Specialist, Izak Zulkowski. We discuss the origins of The FMRT Group and the importance of mental wellness for public safety professionals. You can find the podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, iHeart, Tune-In, and more. We’re incredibly excited for the opportunity to share the insightful conversations that we’re having with leading experts in their fields. If you’re interested in joining me as a guest, I’d love to hear from you, and so would our audience. Reach out to me or Izak at izak@fmrt.org.

---

Be on the Lookout:

FMRT is bringing you a podcast. We know that you love hearing from us just as much as we love hearing from you. Join us in our upcoming endeavor as we start our very own podcast. We hope you’ll tune in and participate in our discussions centered around public safety, psychology, and much more. Be on the lookout for where and when to listen! 

---

Operational Update:

The FMRT Group has a new legal business name. Please share our UPDATED W-9 form with your accounting team. 

---

Through the End of the Month

January 1st 

• FMRT Closed 

January 14th-17th 

• NCACP Conference in Cherokee, NC

January 24th-26th 

• SCSA 2024 Winter Conference in Columbia, SC 

January 30th 

• FMRT’s first podcast goes live! 

This month we’re also happy to welcome our newest intern Maddison from High Point University, we are excited for you all to meet her! 

---