What Makes a Successful Life Changer?改变人生，由新年开始

2017-12-05ByMikeEvans翻译思苇

疯狂英语·新悦读 2017年12期

⊙ By Mike Evans ⊙翻译：思苇

⊙ By Mike Evans ⊙翻译：思苇

明明只是日历翻过了一页，为什么1月1日就是有种特别不同的味道，让我们产生一种人生可以由此改变的新感觉？Mike是一位心理学博士，他在这方面做了不少研究，来听听他是怎么理解新年的奇妙魔力吧。

Well, it’s the end of one year and the beginning of another, a time of1)renewal.Maybe you’re thinking about making your life better in some small or large way. Maybe it’s a life-style change, like walking more. Maybe it’s about being more grateful for what you have, or calling your Mom more often.Maybe it’s to travel around the world. Almost half of us make a commitment to making a positive change in our lives for the New Year.You know, when I think about it, that’s pretty2)incredible.

Well, it’s difficult to say what it is3)precisely about New Years, but I think a lot of what we do is about culture. And I think New Years create a4)pocket to stop and to think, to be5)mindful, to reflect, to go public with the change, and to support others that are changing as well. This ability to reflect is the key educational skill I want my students to have: to be what we call a “reflective learner,”to see our personal strength and weaknesses,to have6)clarity about7)priorities, to balance optimism with realism, have flexibility.

Many of us, when we think of successful change, often think of big goals and use terms like motivation, willpower and selfcontrol. You have these8)attributes if you’re successful, and if you don’t, you’ll fail. Well, I kinda see the9)reverse.

I see success linked to small goals and small wins. I see more10)facilitation than motivation, more self-monitoring than selfcontrol. Willpower isn’t11)static. It kinda comes and goes. And instead of12)fending off one urge after another, these people set up their lives to13)minimize14)temptations.Science tells us, if you have a bigger bucket of popcorn, you’ll eat it. Good changers know this, and they play offense, not defense. They schedule weekly activities or games. They put out their running shoes. They cut fruitsand15)veggies and put them at the front of the16)fridge. They call and make an appointment with the trainer.

I think we’re creatures of habit. We do the same things over and over, and looking at your average week for low-hanging fruit is a great start. Can you do a little homework to change up your shopping slightly, to make that food that you17)graze on more nutritious? Can you replace your flavored drinks with18)plain old water? Can you say hi to the19)odd person you don’t know?

When I think of successful changers, I actually don’t think of the CEO laying out a large20)agenda or goals. I think more of the21)plumber or carpenter. These people come prepared with tools. They know they need to22)reframe and adapt older structures,but they also know they can build what needs to be built. Better habits, one room at a time.

And January was named by the Romans to honor Janus, the God of beginnings and23)transitions. He faces both the future and the past, and I think that is what is special about New Years: learning from the past, but pointing to a new you and saying “That’s where I want to go.” I hope this helps you get there.

这篇文章有个突出的特点：作者喜欢用上一大堆结构相近的句式，形成排比，增加语言的力度与分量。比如在第二段谈到新年这个独立空间的作用时，他列举了“to stop and to think, to be mindful, to re fl ect, to go public with the change, and to support others…”这串不定式结构，听起来是不是有种层层叠叠的气势感？你还能在文中找到其他类似的结构吗？把这些排比结构全都划出来，多读几遍，加深体会。

参考译文

旧岁将尽，新年渐近，是时候重新开始了。你或许希望让自己的人生在大大小小的方面变得更加美好——也许是改变一种生活方式，比如多走路；也许是对你所拥有的一切更加感恩，或者是多和妈妈通电话；也许是环游世界……我们当中近半数人会在这个时候做出承诺，希望在新的一年里给自己的生活带来更加积极的转变。你瞧，仔细想想，这比例还蛮厉害呢。

很难说清新年到底有何特别之处，但在我看来，我们的行为大部分源自文化因素的影响。新年营造出这么一个独立空间，让我们可以停下来斟酌一下，留心周围，多加思考，公开表达想要改变的决心，并且对同样在追求改变的其他人给予支持。我很希望我的学生能够掌握这种思考能力：成为一个“思考型学习者”，看到自己的优势和劣势，知道哪些事情是优先项，在乐观精神与现实主义之间找到平衡点，以及灵活处事，随机应变。

我们在思考何谓“成功转变”这个问题时，许多人想到的往往是各种宏图大志，还喜欢用动力、意志力、自控力之类的大词。如果你取得了成功，你肯定具备上述几个特点；如果你没有这些特点，你就会失败。喔，我的看法恰恰相反。

在我看来，成功应该和各种小目标、小进步连在一起。我觉得助力比动力更重要，自我监督比自我控制更重要。意志力并不是静态的，可以说总有高低起伏。成功改变自己的人不会拼命阻挡一个又一个的欲望，而是规划好自己的生活，尽量减少这些诱惑带来的影响。科学研究表明，如果你买了大桶的爆米花，你就会将它吃得一干二净。能够改变自己的人很明白这个道理，他们会主动出击，而不是被动防守。他们会每周安排时间搞搞活动，打打比赛。他们会将跑鞋拿出来，把蔬菜水果都切好，放在冰箱最外面。他们会给教练打电话，约好健身时间。

我们是一种习惯性动物，总是不断重复地做着同样的事情——所以，将平常一周的事情当作稍微努力就能够得着的成果，就是一个好的开始。你能提前做点“功课”，稍微改变一下购物方向，让摄入的食物更有营养吗？你能将调味饮料换成白开水吗？你能和随便一个陌生人打声招呼吗？

当我想到那些成功的改变者，浮现在我脑海里的形象并不是摊开一张巨大的日程表，或者列举各种远大目标的公司高管，而更像是水管工或者木匠这类人。这些人带着工具有备而来，深知他们需要重新建构，还要适应旧有体系——但工人们也知道，他们总能把要做的事情一一做到。养成更好的习惯，一次改造一个“房间”。

罗马人将一月命名为“January”，是为了纪念门神雅努斯。这位双面神掌管着开端和变化，一张脸看着过去，另一张脸面向未来。我想，这正是新年的特别之处——你要从过去中吸取教训，但也要指着一个崭新的自己说：“那就是我的目标。”希望我这番话对你的前行有所帮助吧。

1) renewal [rɪˑnjuːəl] n. 更新，重新开始

2) incredible [ɪnˑkredɪb（ə）l] adj. 难以置信的，不可思议的

3) precisely [prɪˑsaɪslɪ] adv. 确切地，明确地

4) pocket [ˑpɒkɪt] n. 一小片，一小块

5) mindful [ˑmaɪndfʊl] adj. 留心的，注意的

6) clarity [ˑklærɪtɪ] n. 清楚，明晰

7) priority [praɪˑɒrɪtɪ] n. 优先，优先考虑的事

8) attribute [ˑætrɪbjuːt] n. 性质，属性

9) reverse [rɪˑvзːs] n. 相反，反转