How to make your New Year’s resolutions stick in 2025!
- An-Karlien
- Jan 5
- 5 min read
Every January, countless people set resolutions to create meaningful change in their lives. Yet, by February, most of these well-intentioned goals have been abandoned. Why does this happen? The issue often lies not in the goals themselves but in a lack of alignment between the desired change and the deeper layers of our psyche. This is where the Six Logical Levels model, developed by Robert Dilts and inspired by Gregory Bateson’s work, becomes a game-changer.
This powerful framework, widely used in psychology, coaching, and personal development, provides a structured way to understand and implement sustainable change. By addressing all levels—from environment to identity and purpose—it ensures that changes are not only achievable but also enduring.
Let’s explore how this model works and how you can use it to make lasting transformations, starting with those New Year’s resolutions.
Why do resolutions fail?
The missing alignment
Most resolutions focus on surface-level behaviors, such as exercising more or eating healthier. While these are admirable goals, they often fail because they don’t address deeper layers that influence those behaviors, such as our beliefs, values, or identity. For example:
A goal to "wake up earlier" might fail if your environment is disorganized, making mornings chaotic.
A resolution to "exercise regularly" will falter if your underlying belief is, "I’m not the type of person who enjoys physical activity."
When these deeper layers are not aligned, resistance emerges. We revert to old habits, not because we lack discipline, but because the change isn’t neurologically or emotionally supported.
The Six Logical Levels: A framework for change
The Six Logical Levels organize human experience and change into six interconnected layers:
Environment: Your external surroundings and conditions.
Behaviors: The specific actions you take.
Capabilities: The skills and knowledge you bring to those actions.
Beliefs and Values: What you hold to be true and important.
Identity: Your sense of self.
Purpose: Your connection to a larger mission or meaning.
Changes at higher levels influence the layers below, while unresolved conflicts at lower levels can sabotage progress higher up. For instance, a shift in identity—such as seeing yourself as "a healthy and disciplined person"—can naturally inspire new habits and behaviors. Conversely, growing up in a chaotic environment might lead to beliefs that hinder growth, like "I don’t deserve stability."
Building sustainable change with the Six Logical Levels
1. Environment: Setting the stage for success
Your environment is the foundation of change. If your surroundings conflict with your goals, progress becomes an uphill battle.
Example: A cluttered workspace can impede productivity and focus. By organizing your space, you create an environment that supports your intentions.
Action Step: Reflect on how your environment affects your goals. Are there distractions you can remove or supportive elements you can add?
2. Behaviors: Taking aligned actions
Behavior is what we often focus on when setting resolutions. However, without support from the higher levels, these actions can feel forced or unsustainable.
Example: Trying to eat healthier might fail if your belief is "I don’t have time to cook." Aligning your schedule and mindset can make this behavior stick.
Action Step: Identify one small, consistent action you can take daily that aligns with your goal.
3. Capabilities: Developing the right skills
Capabilities bridge the gap between intention and action. Without the necessary skills or knowledge, even the best intentions falter.
Example: Wanting to manage stress but lacking effective relaxation techniques makes the goal unattainable.
Action Step: Invest in learning the skills or acquiring the knowledge you need, whether it’s through books, courses, or coaching.
4. Beliefs and values: Overcoming internal resistance
Beliefs and values drive motivation. Limiting beliefs, such as "I’ll never be good enough," can sabotage your efforts, even if everything else is aligned.
Example: A belief like "I can’t stick to routines" can make even simple resolutions feel impossible.
Action Step: Reframe limiting beliefs by questioning their validity and replacing them with empowering alternatives, like "I’m learning to stick to routines that work for me."
5. Identity: Becoming the person you aspire to be
Identity is the most powerful driver of sustainable change. When your goals align with your sense of self, they feel natural rather than forced.
Example: Instead of saying, "I want to exercise more," affirm, "I’m someone who prioritizes health and well-being."
Action Step: Visualize the person you want to become. What choices would that version of you make? Start embodying those choices today.
6. Purpose: Connecting to something bigger
Purpose provides the ultimate motivation for change. When your goals align with a larger mission or meaning, they gain emotional weight and clarity.
Example: Exercising to "look good" might not be as motivating as exercising to have the energy to spend quality time with loved ones.
Action Step: Reflect on how your goals connect to your broader life purpose. Why does this change truly matter to you?
Real-life applications
From self-sabotage to self-mastery
Consider someone struggling with work-life balance. If their belief is, "Success requires constant effort," they may resist taking breaks, even to recharge. By realigning their identity as "someone who thrives on balance," they can adopt healthier habits without guilt.
Turning perceived flaws into strengths
Imagine someone who sees their sensitivity as a weakness. By reframing it as "a strength that helps me connect deeply with others," they can embrace their true self and use it as a foundation for growth.
A roadmap to stick with your resolutions
1. Reflect on the Six Levels
Examine your goal through each level. Are your environment, skills, and beliefs aligned with your resolution?
2. Start from the Top Down
Focus on higher levels—identity and purpose—to create a trickle-down effect on behaviors and environment.
3. Address resistance proactively
Identify potential roadblocks and address them early. For example, if you fear failure, explore the belief driving that fear and reframe it.
4. Revisit and realign
Change is not a one-time event. Regularly review your progress and adjust your approach as needed. Ask yourself, "Are my actions still aligned with my values and identity?"
Conclusion: Creating lasting change in 2025
The Six Logical Levels model offers a transformative way to approach change. By aligning your goals with your identity and purpose, you can overcome the common pitfalls that derail resolutions. Whether your aim is to improve your health, relationships, or personal growth, this framework ensures your efforts are not only successful but also sustainable.
As you set your resolutions this year, remember: change isn’t just about what you do. It’s about who you are becoming. With alignment across all levels, your goals can become a natural extension of your authentic self.
Need support to align your goals?
Implementing change across all six levels can be transformative, but it’s not always easy to identify and address misalignments on your own. As a professional coach, I specialize in guiding individuals through this process, helping you clarify your purpose, reframe limiting beliefs, and create lasting changes that align with your values and identity. Together, we’ll uncover what’s holding you back and develop a personalized plan to achieve your goals with confidence and clarity.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward sustainable change, I invite you to book a discovery call. Let’s explore how I can support you in making 2025 the year you truly unlock your potential.
Comments