New Year Resolutions Are Not The Problem
Men and women all over the world use the month of January to write down all of their New Year’s resolutions. Each goal is written, typed, or shared with optimism and zeal. A glimmer of hope has emerged that some people have not experienced in recent months. However, over the course of the year, this hope begins to fade and the gleam fades.
Why does this happen? Was the resolution the problem? No, it was not.
The most effective resolutions begin with a deliberate reflection. This person has chosen to set aside time before committing to any new goals to reflect on their previous goals’ execution. Questions such as the following are taken into account:
- What challenges did this goal present?
- Did the challenges cause derailment?
- Am I still working towards this goal?
- Did this goal require outside support?
- Were my daily habits constructive to my goals?
Then there’s the question of “why is this goal important to me?”Knowing whether we are setting goals based on our desires or on subliminal messages from society about what should matter to us influences our efforts. If your objectives do not feel personal and important to you, your actions and behavior will reflect this. It is human nature to nurture that which we care for, our primitive nature will be protective and caring towards it.
So, what does your behavior say? After all, our nonverbal communication accounts for 90% of our communication, no matter how beautifully you say or write it. Our actions are the loudest.
It’s also possible that the solution lies not in the novelty of a new goal, but in the continuation of an old one. When we think about it, 365 days isn’t always enough time to complete complex goals. Let’s take the well-known example of weight loss. Weight loss is probably one of the top-two new year’s resolutions, and for good reason, right? We all want to look and feel our best, but depending on our individual journeys, 365 days may not be enough to see the changes we desire.
If you are embarking on a wellness goal for the first time, you may encounter many mental and emotional obstacles. You will not only be working on physical goals, but you will also be learning about discipline and self-belief. For some, this may be the first step, and by the time emotional strength is developed, we may be well into the year.
A goal continuation is a decision to continue working on this goal. This is a multifaceted goal that necessitates perseverance. Longevity is experienced in both the pausing and going. Do not become discouraged by your pauses; instead, press on with your goals.
When discussing goal abandonment, the scarcity mindset is frequently disregarded. If you grew up with emotionally immature parents, in a low-income neighborhood, or in an abusive, neglectful home, you may have developed a scarcity mindset. The scarcity mindset is based on the assumption that good things do not or will not occur. The scarcity mindset is frequently associated with survival and struggle. When we have a scarcity mindset, it can be very challenging for us to set long-term goals or even commit to them because doing so would mean giving up on the idea that good things can happen to us.
If this is an area you identify with, consider speaking to a licensed therapist.
New Year’s resolutions are not a problem; however, how we approach them may be. Creating SMART goals is a good way to get started. SMART goals are objectives that are: SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, RELEVANT, AND TIME-BOUND.
I hope this New Year is all that you need it to be. Happy New Year and Happy SMART goal setting!
