The Only Resolutions You Need
When you think of things that could be improved in your life (or maybe even desperately NEED to be improved) what do you think of?
For me, that question has about 200 different answers. You play so many different roles in your life (mother, daughter, friend, sibling, wife, girlfriend, coworker, boss, neighbor, dog mom…you get the idea), and have so many different facets that make you whole (your physical health, mental health, relationships, finances, hobbies, career, etc), that in my opinion, it’s virtually impossible to make resolutions that address them all.
Which is fine, you don’t need to change everything overnight. However, you don’t want to neglect any area. See the issue? Here’s my point; New Year’s Resolutions make the assumption that your growth and goals can be narrowed down to a short list. So while the idea of a fresh start and motivation to change is great, the concept of making a list of things you want to change over the course of a year is a little flawed. At best, you focus on these and neglect others. At worst, you get overwhelmed and change nothing.
So…how can you harness the positive aspects of New Year’s Resolutions and create goals and a mindset that don’t neglect any part of your being?
Don’t think about what needs to change in your life. Think about what needs to change in you.
To understand what I mean, you need to take a look at why resolutions fail in the first place. This article by Forbes sums it up beautifully; resolutions tend to fail due to internal reasons like a problem in your own consciousness, a lack of accountability, or fear of change.
To sum it up, it’s not that you need the right amount of motivation, the right diet plan, or to come across the right job listing. It’s that you need to get your MIND right.
So this year I challenge you to make only one or two resolutions, and make ones that only address your internal world. As the article quotes “Einstein once said: ‘We cannot solve a problem on the level of consciousness that created it.’” So let’s get to work on changing from the inside out.
Sounds Good…But How?
Ask yourself. Why is the problem you’re trying to solve a problem to begin with? Why is it something you struggle with? If you want to lose weight in 2022, ask yourself what caused you to be at a weight you’re unhappy with to begin with? Is it that you use food as a coping mechanism? Is it that you actually hate the gym and haven’t tried any other forms of movement? Can you see why making resolutions centric around the method of losing weight might not address the root INTERNAL problem?
In this hypothetical example of someone wanting to lose weight – who also happens to use food as a crutch and coping mechanism during rough times- their resolution could be to lose weight by going to the gym 4x a week, eating less junk food, and walking the dog more often. However, as soon as they had a bad day/week/month (as we all will, sorry, 2022 isn’t a magic pill), they’d fall off the wagon, get discouraged, and likely quit all while never actually being aware of the real problem. Their real resolution should have been to learn to cope with negative feelings in a more healthy way.
See what I mean? Address what’s inside first, and the rest will fall into place.
However, I’m not done yet!
There’s one more thing to keep in mind. Even if you find the right things to focus on, it won’t be until you take ACTION that you start to see change.
It’s not enough to simply be aware, there needs to be steps taken consistently to create true, lasting, change.
Parting Words
So, here is my final suggestion; make the resolutions that really matter this year. You don’t have tocome up with a comprehensive list of everything that bothers you about your life. You don’t have to dissect your childhood, traumas, and faulty mindsets all right now.
You just need to make two resolutions for 2022;
- You will focus on the how and the why. You will indulge in self-reflection often and adjust as needed.
- You will take action, no matter how small. Going to the gym once a month is 100x better than not going at all but wanting to go 4x a week. No matter how small a step seems, how small the change you can handle is, do it.
This year, reflect, and take action. In the end, that’s all you really need to live by to create a life you’re proud of. Happy New Year, folks.
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