For most of us, we have likely made some sort of firm decision, a resolution, on what we will do different, more of, or better of this year.

Although there are many ways to look at how our brain operates, let's focus on a simple concept. I would like you to consider that the brain is either focused on moving towards something (i.e. achieving), or it is focused on moving away from something (i.e. avoiding).

Why is this important to know?

If you perceive something (i.e. an experience, idea, action, etc.) as unpleasant, uncomfortable or unwanted, then the brain will want to move away from, or avoid, whatever that something is.

If the perception of that same something is positive, then the brain is more likely to want to move towards, or achieve, that "something".

Regardless of what you are up to in 2020, I want share with you a few mindsets, based on this "brain operation", to help you remain focused and driven towards taking action:

Mindset #1: Let Go Of The Past

The brain wants to avoid unpleasant, uncomfortable and unwanted situations. It will intentionally, yet unconsciously, move you away from taking action towards any goal you tie a negative emotion with.

For example, say you want to improve your financial health. Regardless of how much you truly want to improve, if the source of that improvement comes from a fear of not being able to retire, fear of debt collectors, etc. you will be fighting against yourself as your brain looks to avoid any action when it comes to your finances. Instead, you'll find yourself constantly reverting back towards old, but comfortable, behaviours.

This is why it is so important to let go of your past when goal setting.

Instead of looking into the past and focusing on what you no longer want in the future (i.e. money problems, bad relationships, unfulfilled career, poor health, etc.) in order to determine your resolutions or goals. Look into the future and spend some time exploring what's possible for your life within the achievement of that goal.

What about it gets you excited? How would feel if you accomplished "X"?

Now, identify specific daily actions which relate to that goal so you can celebrate these daily accomplishments. You will begin to feel the difference as your brain begins to release endorphins to influence your behaviour so you are moving towards the excitement now associated with that accomplishment.

The more we are able to let go of what's happened in the past, especially the bad parts we hang onto, the more freedom we have to move towards what we want in the future.

First and foremost is to recognize that most of our resolutions/goals are built upon something that we dislike about the past. Whether that be finances, health, fitness, career, or relationships there is usually something that we are dissatisfied with enough that we want to change.

However, when we are looking at what we want to "improve" by focusing through the lens of what we don't like, it puts you into a negative state of mind by default...setting you up to fail before you even really started.

Mindset #2: Embrace that failure is inevitable

Results come and go. They are either out of our reach because we haven't achieved them yet, or behind us because we've achieved them and set new goals. Either way, although we can change probability in achieving our goals, there is never a guarantee of achieving "x" by "y".

However, actions are always available to us in the present and are the source of any accomplishment. Because of this, I like to place failure into two buckets:

The first is the failure we associate with when our results do not meet our expectations. Like when you work your butt off in the gym but don't lose the weight you wanted before vacation, or when you pour your heart and soul into a business yet it fails to remain profitable. These are result based failures which include variables we have no control over.

The second is the types of failures that happen when we do nothing. These are stealthy in nature because the initial inaction tricks us into believing that we are avoiding failure...so we stay comfortable doing what is certain and predictable. Our expectations and our results don't change, and we avoid the discomfort of failure. Until one day it shows up as a failure to take action. Here, the failure does not comes from the result. It comes from the lack of accomplishment.

The difference between the two types of failures, is that one is focused on results - which are not guaranteed - and the other is focused on accomplishments (our actions) which we have complete control over.

If you do nothing to grow or develop yourself. If all you do is stay inside the comfort zone of predictably knowing that when you do "X" you'll get "Y", then you may be able to avoid the initial fear of failure, but it will show up eventually when you reflect on what you "could of" or "should of" done.

Anytime we lean into accomplishing something that we've never done before, there will always be an uncertainty that comes with that as we don't know if doing "X" will get us to "Y", and the fear-of-failure (avoiding) begins to set in.

However, when we are playing the game of life "all in", and playing-to-win (achieving) vs playing-no-to-lose (avoiding) - we begin to access a life worth living.

We begin to leverage failure as a Key Performance Indicator to help us measure our progress to a goal, and we celebrate the actions we take in the moment as accomplishments for moving towards our goals vs. away from them.

Failure will always be undesired, uncomfortable and unpleasant. It will always be something that the brain wants to avoid. So embrace the fact that it is inevitable, and take action anyway.

Mindset #3: Be Brave

Even if you let go of the past, sourcing your goals from what's possible in the future. Even if you embrace that playing the game of life all-out will inevitably lead to having failures. This will not change the fact that the brain is hard-wired to avoid uncertainty in order to keep us safe.

Which is why when we create large, aspirational and life changing goals, we at some point feel a little (or a lot) of fear, discomfort, anxiety, doubt, etc.

It may happen at the time of considering whether or not you can do it, or it may be later when you go to take action, or it may happen the first time that something does not meet your expectations of how 'it' should have happened. Either way, it will happen.

Fear is the brains tricky way of sabotaging any possible action that could lead to risking your safety (i.e. failing), and is normally a result of uncertainty or discomfort.

Thoughts like, "I can't do it" or "I'll fail" enter the mind. Obstacles like "I don't have enough money" or "I have too much on my plate" begin to stand in the way.

Ideas for what you would rather be doing instead, like watching Netflix or hanging out with friends begin to draw you closer to feeling comfortable.

Being Brave is all about putting 100% of yourself into your purpose. Leaning hard into uncertainty no matter how many times things don't work out, and experiencing what it means to do it anyway despite all the reasons and excuses as to why it won't work.

Being brave is not fearless trait. It's about recognizing that fear and uncertainty is present, and still having the courage to take action.

Summary

In summary, if you are looking to make a real difference in an area of your life, and do so powerfully. Let go of the past and focus on what you will gain (i.e. the positive thing you will achieve) versus what you will get rid of (i.e. the negative thing you will avoid). Embrace that failure is inevitable, and it will happen; However, failures tied to an accomplishment are avoidable if you consistently take action towards your goals and results based failures are an important KPI. And lastly, be brave and dismiss the desire to do what is already known, what is comfortable, and what is already predictable and almost certain in your life.

Lee Picco is a husband, father and leadership & management consultant focused on health, safety, culture, and human performance.

For additional information about services provided, access other blogs & videos, or to get into contact with Lee, please visit www.leepicco.com