A study by Stanford psychologist Paul O'Keefe suggests that the culture of our environments have long-term effects on our goals and motivation.
According to a 2002 study on New Year’s resolutions, compared to people who failed, successful resolvers were more likely to use a technique called “stimulus control”: keeping things around to remind them of their goals.
In a 1989 study, researchers followed up with New Year’s resolvers seven times and asked which techniques they were using to keep their resolutions (and whether they were succeeding). Among 13 different strategies, including the exercise of willpower, keeping physical reminders around was the only one linked to success at every single stage. Participants who broke their resolutions cited the lack of physical reminders as one of their biggest pitfalls.
REFERENCES
O’Keefe, P.A., Ben-Eliyahu, A. & Linnenbrink-Garcia, L. Motiv Emot (2013). Shaping achievement goal orientations in a mastery-structured environment and concomitant changes in related contingencies of self-worth 37: 50. 10.1007/s11031-012-9293-6
John C. Norcross, Marci S. Mrykalo, Matthew D. Blagys. (2002). Success predictors, change processes, and self-reported outcomes of New Year's resolvers and nonresolvers. 10.1002/jclp.1151
Norcross, John & J. Vangarelli, Dominic. (1988). The resolution solution: Longitudinal examination of New Year's change attempts. Journal of Substance Abuse. 1. 127-134. 10.1016/S0899-3289(88)80016-6.