Every January, people make resolutions or goals for the year. Every year, people fail to meet these goals and only leave themselves discouraged. Why keep putting yourself through the same failure year after year? Whether the resolution is a new one or you make it 3 months instead of 3 weeks, if you don’t accomplish your goal, you get the same result. This year, try something different. Don’t make any.
I want to propose a new idea, make a monthly resolution. Something tangible that we can complete in 30 days.
For example, if we want to lose weight, make our resolution for January to lose 5 pounds. This is doable and can be built on if we succeed. Then in February, we can do something like no fast food or put $200 in a savings account.
Most resolutions are made for failure. A year seems like a lot of time, but it flies by. We set the bar too high and fall short. Let’s make sure our goal is within actual reach.
At the same time, if our resolution is to go to the gym 3 times a week all year, how can we know what’s going to happen 6 months from now? We could get hurt and not be capable of going to the gym at all for 8 weeks. That’s 2 months! And we all know we won’t get back to it when we’re better.
Who says resolutions can only be set in January?
What’s different about this month that we only want to better ourselves once a year? Resolutions should be made all the time. We can strive to better ourselves rear round. Not just when or because everybody else is.
That brings me to another proposition. Get a jar–it doesn’t matter what kind, lid or no lid. Every time you accomplish a goal or something positive and influential happens to you, write it down and put it in the jar. You can even put objects in it (like a rock from reaching the top of Mount Everest) something that signifies an accomplishment you made. At the 1-year mark, dump it out and reminisce on everything great you have done in a year. Take a minute to celebrate you.
New Year’s is a time to remember the past year and look to the year ahead.
Do this in a positive way. Don’t set yourself up to fail or feel unaccomplished. Stay positive and continue to grow. We are capable of so much! But we have to walk before we run.
