A Resolution to Abandon the “New Year” Resolution – in Practice
By Rachel Reardon
For some people, New Year’s resolutions can truly inspire and propel a lasting change in their lives and routines. I think we all know, however, that those types of New Year’s resolutions are pretty unlikely. It’s a shame that many of us abandon our resolutions without giving it a second thought. We as college students have the opportunity to create real change within our lives. As young people, we have the power to change the course of what we do without too many repercussions for doing so. We are extremely moldable, not too set in a routine to inhibit change, and ready to take on new innovations and pursuits in our lives. This is the time to experiment.
That is why I feel like New Year’s resolutions are not important—or perhaps I just believe them to be overrated. I don’t think they are detrimental by any means; nothing that inspires some degree of positive change can be destructive. Still, these resolutions are fleeting, and if we want to really improve our lives, we should not make some big wish for change when January 1st hits. Most of us give up on these resolutions by the time February comes. Real change takes time, attention, and dedication. Sure, you can begin to create changes with the coming of a new year, a fresh start. I am not opposed to that. But don’t think that the new year will necessarily bring a new you if your perspective and actions do not shift to bring about that change.
A resolution in itself is wonderful. It shows a willingness to better oneself, and that is the first step in achieving goals in order to create a fulfilling life. But, as I mentioned, the decision to change is not enough. In my experience, there have been a few lasting resolutions I made, all of which did not occur due to the new year, but rather because of the efforts I put into ensuring their success. Making a resolution, one that actually guides your everyday decisions, requires a commitment almost as, or maybe even just as, strong as if one were creating a life-changing choice such as where to go to college or who to marry. I get that this statement may seem crazy and far-fetched, but in my experience, the more intense the commitment, the more likely the resolution will hold strong.
I thought it would be helpful to share what worked for me in my journey to create a more positive, enjoyable lifestyle. Crafting resolutions and goals was crucial to this process. To reinforce them in my mind, I wrote them down daily—in this way, I manifested the changes to ensure they would occur, and I actively thought about ways to achieve them—and I still do so, even if I feel like they have been met. A resolution that becomes ingrained into your lifestyle can slowly disappear if not practiced. I also told my friends and family about my resolutions. That way, the people who care about me could hold me accountable when I was not strong enough to enforce them myself. Yet at the same time, I was also gentle with myself; I did not punish myself for failing to uphold a resolution. Staying positive is crucial to create positive change. I think one of the biggest factors that prevents us from fulfilling our resolutions is fear. We fear what we do not know, we struggle to adjust to new changes, and we do not want to fail. So, we passively abandon our resolutions in order to make life easier. Keeping a positive, gentle mindset will alleviate this kind of tension.
No one is perfect, and if you want to work towards your New Year’s Resolution, by all means please do. But if you are passionate about this resolution and truly want to change, it is going to take a change of mindset rather than a change of year to uphold your goals. I wish you all the luck in your resolution pursuits!
