The Strategy of Change
In this article
As we move toward a new year, you’re going to hear a lot of noise about goals, resolutions, discipline, and “starting fresh.”
This isn’t that.
This is about understanding why change has felt hard in the past — and why that doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you.
Recommended Listen
Change Your Life This Year: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be with Dr. Katy Milkman, PhD
Why It Matters:
Dr. Katy Milkman is one of the world’s leading behavioral scientists, and her research confirms something I see every day in coaching:
Change doesn’t fail because you lack willpower. It fails because the wrong strategy is being used.
Her work identifies seven hidden barriers that stop people from following through — things like procrastination, impulsivity, forgetfulness, low confidence, and getting started. When you name the real barrier and match it with the right tool, change finally becomes doable.
The Shift That Changes Everything
Willpower fails because pain kills persistence
Strategy works because it makes change feel easier now
Starting works best at temporal landmarks— new years, new chapters, even Mondays
Habits stick when they’re instantly rewarding, not endlessly hard
This isn’t about trying harder. It’s about designing change that actually fits your life.
Quote of the Week
You’re not broken. You’re just using the wrong tool for the problem.
—Dr. Katy Milkman, PhD
Reflection Prompt
If change were easier — and kinder — what would you be willing to try again?
We’ll talk more about how to build systems that support real change in January.
For now, be safe and enjoy life.
With you,
Coach Wendy
P.S. If this newsletter helped you pause, reflect, or see something more clearly, please share it with a friend who could use the same reminder. Sometimes the most meaningful support starts with a simple “this made me think of you.”
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