Dr. Michele Kehrer Releases ‘Brave Shift’ to Reignite Failing New Year Resolutions
Updated (2 articles)
Resolution Drop‑Off Peaks by Mid‑March Research shows the second Friday of January, dubbed “Quitter’s Day,” marks the start of a steep decline in New Year’s resolutions, with the majority of participants abandoning their goals by mid‑March [1]. The pattern highlights the difficulty of sustaining motivation beyond the initial enthusiasm of January.
‘Brave Shift’ Offers Thirty Bite‑Size Rules Physical therapist and four‑time cancer survivor Michele Kehrer, based in Cape Coral, Florida, published the book Brave Shift containing 30 practical mindset rules designed for personal and professional transformation [1]. The guide targets incremental changes rather than sweeping overhauls, aiming to make lasting behavior adjustments more attainable.
Personal Reason and Emotion Strengthen Commitment Kehrer advises linking each resolution to a specific, emotionally charged motive—such as losing five pounds to fit a dress for a vacation—to create accountability and pride [1]. This personal anchor converts abstract goals into tangible, motivating targets.
Visualization Metaphor Guides Daily Planning Using a “magic paintbrush” metaphor, she encourages readers to picture their ideal day, week, or month and then outline the concrete steps needed to achieve that vision [1]. The technique shifts focus from negative self‑talk to an inspired, forward‑looking mindset.
Ownership Over Obstacles Replaces Blame Shifting The author stresses “cleaning up your own mess,” urging individuals to examine their role in challenges such as unhealthy relationships and to assume personal responsibility [1]. By eliminating societal blame‑shifting, progress becomes a matter of internal control.
Restart Option Remains Viable Throughout Year Kehrer emphasizes that it is never too late to restart a resolution, noting roughly 11 months remain in the calendar year [1]. She recommends discarding drama, treating each day as a fresh start, and beginning anew whenever motivation resurfaces.
Timeline
Dec 27, 2025 – Experts advise reframing New Year’s resolutions from fixed targets to ongoing processes, urging people to write down what’s working, what’s draining, and where they operate on autopilot; Dr Claire Kaye warns “resolutions collapse when goals are unclear, unrealistic, and too broad,” while psychologist Kimberley Wilson adds “relapse is part of the process, not a sign of failure” and recommends treating each day as a reset [1].
Jan 2026 (second Friday) – The second Friday of January becomes known as “Quitter’s Day,” marking the point when many people abandon their resolutions, a pattern highlighted by recent research on goal sustainability [2].
Feb 17, 2026 – Physical therapist Michele Kehrer publishes Brave Shift, offering 30 bite‑size rules; she emphasizes that “linking a specific, emotionally charged motive… creates accountability and pride,” and introduces the “magic paintbrush” visualization to help people map ideal days and steps forward [2].
Early March, 2026 – As the year progresses, a growing number of individuals experience resolution fatigue; Kehrer notes that “it’s never too late to restart a resolution,” encouraging people to treat each day as a fresh start and discard drama before the year’s end [2].
Mid‑March, 2026 – Research shows the majority of New Year’s resolutions have dropped off by mid‑March, underscoring the difficulty of sustaining goals without flexible design and habit‑stacking strategies such as those recommended by career coach Emma Jefferys (“after brushing teeth, do ten push‑ups”) and financial adviser Tom Francis (“save £100 a month”) [1].