I suggest in 2019 we forget about resolution(s) for the new year and focus on the goals for each new day instead. I mean why not? We put so much pressure on ourselves to think of some aspect of our life to change for the upcoming year, ignoring the fact that every day is a new beginning and a new opportunity for change. Matter of fact, why wait until a new year to become the better person you desire to be if making the change today could benefit you now? Makes sense to me!
I am amongst those who forced myself to come up with some impressive New Year’s resolution every year just because….well, it was tradition. It was also crazy because I had already made changes throughout the year based on how I wanted to improve my life at the time, so then I’d spend days or weeks trying to come up with some grand personal reboot for the new year; something it may take me beyond a year to accomplish, like losing 30 pounds. If my weight is something I battle with or poses a health risk it requires my immediate attention, right?
Last year I talked about a New Year’s resolution stemming from a conversation with my best friend, during which I continued to overthink things as usual. Now this was no sudden discovery to me; I always knew I was an overthinker because of my need to control situations in my life. After our conversation I declared to resolve that behavior and concentrate on prayer above overthinking. Now notice I said, ‘I always knew I was an overthinker.’ So why was this expressed as some revelation of the day just to have a New Year’s resolution?
Prayer has been my go-to ever since I matured in my faith. That wasn’t the real problem and in hindsight shouldn’t have been my resolution. Oh no! The fundamental issue was my need for control, and most times the things I was attempting to think of ways to control were not within my circle of influence. Now can I change such behavior in a year’s time? Probably not. It certainly won’t be resolved in 2018 but progress began well before the start of this year and will continue in my days to come.
There’s nothing wrong with setting and working towards goals and I understand New Year’s resolutions may help some people attain their goals. The problem usually comes when half the year is gone by and there’s no improvement. Then soon we’re embarking on another new year and new sets of resolutions, upset with ourselves for not accomplishing the old ones before year end. Maybe, just maybe you were trying to improve several years’ worth of change in only 365 days. Often times New Year’s resolutions are so unrealistic a person doesn’t recognize their progress but rather declares what they “failed” to achieve.
I’ve set a goal to travel more, not necessarily in 2019 but in my remaining lifetime. I’ve already begun setting aside funds to make that happen. I actually do have a goal to eat healthier and lose weight, but my new eating habits are already underway. I just removed the added pressure of associating either of these changes with the new year but rather simple goals I wish to accomplish for myself. In both cases I can already see progress now, which is far better than waiting until next year to get started.
©2018 CSNelson, dontforgetthehalf
Don't Forget the Half 