Why Most Resolutions Fail — And the Skill That Helps You Recover

With Joey Chandler

Why do so many people abandon their goals?

It’s not because they lack motivation.
It’s not because they don’t care.

More often, it’s because they don’t know how to recover.

In Episode 6 of the Permission to Flourish Podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Joey Chandler, founder of Find Your Way Consulting, to explore a powerful but often overlooked idea: the role of recovery in achieving meaningful goals.

Joey works with entrepreneurs and business owners to create alignment between their values, goals, plans, and actions—helping them pursue bigger ambitions while learning how to bounce back faster from setbacks.

And in this conversation, one thing became very clear:

Flourishing isn’t about avoiding failure.
It’s about learning how to recover when it happens.

Alignment Comes Before Achievement

Many people focus heavily on the outcome—the goal, the milestone, the next big achievement.

But Joey emphasizes something deeper.

True progress begins with alignment.

Alignment between:

• Your values

• Your goals

• Your plans

• Your daily actions

When these elements are aligned, your decisions become clearer. Your energy becomes focused. And your goals feel meaningful rather than overwhelming.

But when they’re disconnected, even ambitious goals can start to feel heavy or confusing.

Flourishing requires more than ambition—it requires alignment.

The Real Problem With Resolutions

Every year, millions of people make resolutions.

And every year, many of those resolutions fade within weeks.

The common narrative is that resolutions fail because people lack discipline.

But Joey challenges that idea.

The real issue is this:

Most people don’t have a healthy way to recover when they fall short.

When someone breaks a commitment or misses a milestone, the emotional response often looks like this:

• Self-blame

• Guilt

• Shame

• Avoidance

Instead of resetting, people walk away from the goal entirely.

Not because the goal was wrong.

But because the setback felt personal.

Recovery Is the Missing Skill

Joey describes recovery as a skill—something that can be learned and practiced.

People who flourish don’t necessarily fail less.

They simply recover faster.

They learn how to:

• Pause without quitting

• Reflect without blaming themselves

• Adjust their plans without abandoning their vision

Instead of waiting for the next year, the next month, or the next “perfect moment,” they reset immediately.

And that small shift changes everything.

Because the faster you recover, the faster you move forward.

Why Entrepreneurs Need This Skill

Entrepreneurship guarantees uncertainty.

Ideas don’t always work.
Launches don’t always succeed.
Plans evolve.

But entrepreneurs who develop a recovery mindset are able to keep moving.

They pursue bigger goals because they know setbacks won’t define them.

And that resilience creates momentum.

It allows them to grow, adapt, and flourish—even in unpredictable circumstances.

A New Perspective on Resolutions

Joey is currently writing a book focused on the psychology and methodology of resolutions.

Rather than treating resolutions as yearly promises that often fade, his work explores how resolutions can become ongoing commitments supported by a recovery system.

He is currently collecting stories from entrepreneurs and individuals who have learned how to reset, recover, and continue pursuing meaningful goals after defeat.

Because in reality, flourishing isn’t about perfection.

It’s about persistence.

Key Takeaways

• Resolutions are powerful when paired with recovery.

• Alignment between values, goals, plans, and actions creates clarity.

• Failure isn’t the problem—shame and self-blame are.

• Recovery is a skill that can be learned.

• The faster you recover, the faster you flourish.

Connect with Joey Chandler

Website
www.joeychandler.net

Social Media
@joeychandler70