New Year Resolutions… Revisited
The beginning of the year is, for many of us, a time to evaluate our priorities and (commit ourselves) to make changes in some areas of our lives.
We are now halfway through this first month of the year. A time when it’s not unusual to start wavering about some of the decisions we made to improve ourselves. Keep in mind that it’s not too late to reassess these goals, make them more attainable, and adapt them accordingly. It’s better to make changes now than to let frustration creep in and eventually give up.
To make resolutions at the start of the year isn’t new. The first recorded examples of this are from about 4000 years ago by the Sumerians. It was a promise made to the gods to pay one’s debts and to return what was borrowed. The gods would, in return, give favor during the year.
This has transformed through the years into a secular tradition followed by many people in the Western world. The promises to gods have now evolved to promises to ourselves to improve our financial, physical, emotional, or spiritual lives.
It’s an opportunity to reassess where we are in life, what we really want, and decide which areas need to change. We make a list of the goals we want to reach and wish for them to become a reality before the end of the year.
But, why are they so difficult to keep?
To have grand plans is good, but if they are not well organized, they are bound to fail. I’m by no means an expert, but I’m older (it happens 😉) and had many years during which I failed to reach my goals or gave up early in the year.
I admire those who can multitask, but it’s not for me. It slows me down, and I feel I don’t achieve things at the level I’d like to. So, having too many projects is counter-productive.
The list of what I wanted to tackle in the new year used to be very long. As a result, when I only achieved maybe one or two goals on the list, it was frustrating.
I now only choose one major goal that I know will take effort, will force me out of my comfort zone, and will necessitate a lot of planning to achieve. I’m proud to say that last year, I not only reached my goal but went beyond. I finished my book; it was published, and it won two International awards. This year, I have decided to get over my fear of public speaking. It won’t be easy, but I’m determined to become good at it before the end of the year.
Besides the primary goal, I usually add a couple goals a little easier to reach, such as: go to bed earlier; drink more water; exercise daily; etc.. I also add a few new skills that I want to develop and have fun with. It could be to learn a foreign language, play an instrument, paint, practice a new sport, knit, ballroom dancing, etc.. This year, I have decided to become proficient with the software programs Procreate, Photoshop, and Canva, as well as learn how to use Instagram efficiently. I have already started, and it’s fun and very relaxing.
I find it very important to create a good balance between what I’m not comfortable with but must improve and what I want to learn that brings me joy.
They are so many factors to consider before deciding on a goal to achieve. It has less to do with the difficulty of the task than with how to plan to make it work and how much time, energy, and sacrifice we’re willing to give to make it a success.
You might find it helpful to ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I truly ready to commit to change, to improve the area of my life I choose to work on? Professional, financial, lifestyle, physical, emotional, spiritual?
- Am I aware of the hurdles I might have to face?
- Am I aware of the efforts it will take to make the changes happen?
- Do I have a coherent plan on how to proceed?
- Can I devote a sufficient amount of time to make it work?
- Can I clearly visualize how my life will be after I achieve my goal?
I’ve discovered a helpful way to make this process simpler. For those not familiar with a vision board, I would highly recommend making one. It’s fun to do and very useful as a visual reminder of what you want to achieve or what you want to manifest.
Here is an excerpt from my book, Winks from Above, on how to create a vision board.
“An excellent way to make your visions or dreams more tangible is to create a Vision (Dream) Board. I’ll describe the basic principle for those not familiar with this way of manifesting your intentions. You can also go on the internet and find all kinds of ideas, patterns, and styles. Here is a basic, step-by-step plan:`
Exercise:
1. First, make a list of all the visions/dreams you have for a specific project and for a definite period of time.
2. Gather the material you’ll need: a poster board, crayons, felt tip pens, old magazines, photos, mementos, stickers, scissors, glue, tape.
3. Browse through the magazines and cut out the pictures or words you’re interested in. You can also look online for specific pictures or words you have in mind and print them.
4. Start placing the pictures and words on the board in a way that is visually appealing to you. It’s important that wherever you place an item, it attracts your eye and reminds you daily of your important goals.
5. Make sure your vision/dream board is in a place where you can see it throughout the day. It will become a good reminder of what you really want and help you work toward your goals.”
If you try this, I’m sure you will find it a great help in achieving your goals. Remember, it’s not too late to reassess them.
I wish you a very Happy Year 2023!
And, with the support of good planning, may all your goals become reality!