5 reasons to expense Mind Tools Learn more
Mind Tools annual discount
20% off your first year of Mind Tools
Don’t be bound by training course schedules. Our on-demand e-learning resources let you learn at your own pace, fitting seamlessly into your busy workday. Join today and save with our limited time offer!
Get 20% off
Mind Tools explore annual discount
20% off your first year of Mind Tools
Don’t be bound by training course schedules. Our on-demand e-learning resources let you learn at your own pace, fitting seamlessly into your busy workday. Join today and save with our limited time offer!
Get 20% off
MAIN MENU

Sign-up to our newsletter

Subscribing to the Mind Tools newsletter will keep you up-to-date with our latest updates and newest resources.

Close
Working on it...
Successfully subscribed to the newsletter
Sorry, something went wrong
December 29, 2021

Replace Your New Year Resolutions With a Hope Letter

Margaret H. Greenberg

, , ,

Share this post:

I try to avoid making sweeping generalizations but, guess what, I'm going to make one right now. From my experience, you can pretty much lump people into two distinct groups: those who set New Year resolutions, and those who don't. But, maybe there's a third way – writing a Hope Letter at the start of the year, to act as an ongoing inspiration to yourself.

If you don't set resolutions, congratulations! If you do set them, you'll most likely ditch them at some point in the next 12 months.

According to some studies, nearly half of all Americans regularly make New Year resolutions (incidentally, just over a third never do), but fewer than 10 percent of people are successful and achieve a positive end result.

So, how are we supposed to reach our dreams, and set achievable goals?

Hope Instead of Resolution

Well, here's the alternative I can offer you: a Hope Letter. I've been testing it with my coaching clients for the past 15 years and it works. And here's why.

Drawing upon extensive research, just over two decades ago, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Kansas, C. R. Snyder, wanted to figure out what role hope played in reaching one's goals. He found that having a goal, though very important, was not enough on its own. We need two other ingredients: pathways for achieving our goals and a belief in our ability to reach them.

A Resolution for Any Time of Year

So, the process of constructing a Hope Letter is relatively easy. First, date the letter one year from the day you sit down to write it.

Second, write it as if everything in your life (career, health, relationships, finances) has gone the way you hoped it would. Write about all aspects of your life and what specifically you did to have such a fabulous year.

You can write a letter anytime. You don't have to wait for the start of the New Year or your birthday. You can write your Hope Letter whenever and wherever you want. Just set yourself a reminder to look at it again in exactly one year. Better yet, share it with someone close to you and ask them to mail it back to you.

Surprise Yourself Next Year

We always feel better when we're planning a positive change in our lives. It's a proactive act, something we can control and guide. And, as our lives move on and we get older (and hopefully a little wiser), the desire to take steps to "make things happen" can strengthen.

Always remember that some of what you write in your Hope Letter will not come true. But I think you'll be surprised by just how many things do. So, who has the courage to write a Hope Letter?

... ... ...

Margaret H. Greenberg is an executive coach and international speaker. She is co-author with Gina Greenlee of the 2021 book, "The Business of Race: How to Create and Sustain an Antiracist Workplace" and, with Senia Maymin, of “Profit from the Positive: Proven Leadership Strategies to Boost Productivity and Transform Your Business.”

You can hear Margaret and Gina in a future edition of the Mind Tools Podcast. And Mind Tools Club members can hear our review of Margaret and Senia's book, here.

This blog has been adapted from one originally published elsewhere on February 26, 2015, under the title, "Be a Positive Deviant – Write a Hope Letter."

Another way to look to the future with hope and to achieve success is to join the Mind Tools Club and access our thousands of career-boosting resources!

Share this post:

3 comments on “Replace Your New Year Resolutions With a Hope Letter”

  1. I must say I'm not in the habit of making New Year's resolutions; I'm much rather in the habit of setting goals.
    I'm curious to try the "hope letter" as it's something I haven't really done. Let's see where this goes...

  2. Well said, Margaret. And your article reminds me of the meta-analysis done by Scott Barry Kaufman. He enlightened that gratitude, love of learning, and hope, are the most independently powerful as strengths that contribute most to well-being. Many thanks.

    1. Thanks Judy for sharing your thoughts and the connection between the 'hope letter' with gratitude, love of learning and hope. I certainly agree with you about them being powerful strengths that positively contribute to our well-being!

Offer ends soon - save on Annual and 3-Year memberships

Don’t be bound by training course schedules. Our on-demand e-learning resources let you learn at your own pace, fitting seamlessly into your busy workday. Don't miss out on 20% off your first year of Mind Tools. Ends March 31.
Get 20% off

You may also like...

November 16, 2023

Digging Into Conflict: How to "Play Nice" at Work

"It leads to what the author calls “assertive play” – not brick-on-skull assertive, but self-confident engagement, where people know they have things to contribute, and stake their claim."- Jonathan Hancock

, ,

November 2, 2023

Dyslexia at Work: How I Learned to Live With My Dyslexia

How can organizations help dyslexic employees? Jaye O'Farrell-Stevens shares his journey with dyslexia – and gives his tips on how to help.

, ,

October 11, 2023

Accepting Praise – How to Own Your Achievements

There's a lot of advice on giving praise, but how can we accept it gracefully? Mind Tools' Assistant Content Editor, Alice Gledhill, explores why accepting praise can be so difficult.

, ,

© Mind Tools Ltd 2024. All rights reserved. "Mind Tools" is a registered trademark of Mind Tools Ltd.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram