No More Resolutions!

Shouldn’t we all be experts on resolutions considering we do this almost every year for New Year’s? Instead, we often find ourselves repeating the same tired resolutions, sometimes succeeding, sometimes giving up.

So here we are…2023 and this year is going to be the best yet! 🙄

It’s not that I am opposed to the hope that a new year brings. I fall under that category as well. 2022 really tried to take me down. It felt like the punches kept coming at me and my family. I would often reference a black cloud following us around constantly. So yes, I am very hopeful that 2023 is going to be the best year yet…or at least better than last year.

But this year, I am doing it different. No resolutions. Instead, I am focusing on goals. Are you asking yourself, whether or not they are the same thing? Well, sort of, but also no. Resolutions are a resolve to change something. It is a statement of what you want to change. One year my New Year’s resolutions was to lose weight. Another year, my New Year’s resolution was to get in shape. This continued for many years, where I would focus around changing things about myself. There is nothing wrong with this except that it relied on my motivation to push me through to make these resolutions happen.

My plan of attack was typically the same, eat less or start a special diet and workout more. I would often impulse purchase some targeted self-help ad promising results. Simple right? So why did this plan always seem to unravel as the year went on? Motivation just wasn’t enough. My planning was superficial, lacking the depth for a plan of attack that accounts for more than just the steps.

So here I am now, ready to do this year different. I will be focusing on setting a goal. While resolutions are a statement of change, goals are a statement on what you want to achieve. Hear that difference…what you want to change compared to what you want to achieve. For some this may still seem like one in the same, but for me, I hear the difference. It is the positivity.

Your goal can still be one of your past resolutions, however success comes with the depth involved in setting the goal. Your goal must align with your values. You need to understand why you want to set the goal. By attaching meaning down to your core values, you are more likely to succeed because in times of struggle, you can draw on your values for strength. And finally, you need to plan specifically how you expect to achieve your goal. Included in this are preparing for obstacles or self-sabotage that may get in your way.

If this process seems like too much effort for you, that is fine. You may not be there yet to establish that goal. Everyone has a moment where they have had enough. When they are ready to do what it takes to achieve their goals. When you get there, this process doesn’t seem daunting. It will be exciting because you have a clear vision on where you want to go and how to get there.

If you had a 2022 similar to me, then maybe now is the time you feel ready. And if you don’t feel ready, guess what? That is OK too. Because I can guarantee you, that when you are ready, you will know it.