Breaking a New Year’s Resolution – What’s the Risk?

As the New Year comes upon us, so many resolutions will be made.  It’s what we do.  New Year, New me….right?  We eat the 12 grapes for good luck.  We wear red underwear for love.  Clean the whole house to get rid of negative energy.  We make New Year’s Resolutions.  Something about the start of a brand new year makes us feel the need to make plans to start on the first of January.  Oftentimes, we start off strong but the motivation fades, and we go back to our typical routines.  Why does that happen?  Let’s break down this long tradition of resolutions. 

What is a resolution?

A resolution is ‘a firm decision to do or not to do something’.  It’s that simple.  It’s your decision.  You get to make decisions every day.  In every moment.  Sometimes we make the right ones.  Sometimes we make ‘wrong’ ones that we then learn from.  As you decide on your resolution, or decisions, remember that it is not permanent.  Create your goals.  Make that vision board.  Plan out your year.  It’s exciting, and a great exercise to do.  But remember to also make those small day to day decisions.  Decide what your next step is to move you forward in your career.  Decide to set the alarm a little earlier so you can make it to the gym.  Decide to eat a more nutritious meal for dinner.  Every small decision along the way is what gets you to your goals.

So What is the Risk of Not Continuing your Resolution?

The risk is completely up to you.  Some may take not keeping a resolution as a ‘failure’ and really beat themselves up about it.  Which, let me say, is not helpful.  Don’t be so hard on yourself.  Your routines and habits have been what you did for a very long time.  It’s hard to make changes.  Hard, but not impossible.  Forgive yourself quickly and refocus.  If things haven’t gone as you initially planned them for January 1^st, that’s ok.  Try again.  Re-group and see what next step you can make.  Or maybe that resolution (decision) was not the one you were meant to make and you need to make new decisions.  This means reflecting on why you chose that resolution

Why did you choose this Resolution?

Reflect back and see why you chose this resolution in the first place?  Maybe you don’t stick with your resolutions you made because it’s not truly aligning with what you want.  As you review the resolutions you picked, dig deep and find out where they stemmed from.  Once you know what it is you’re truly seeking, you will be able to take the next steps and make the next necessary decision.  What do you really want for the year.  For your life.  What is going to make YOU happy?

Do you believe in your Resolution?

Once you determine that your resolution aligns with what you want, you need to believe in it.  Have faith that you can stick with it.  Have faith that you WILL stick with it.  Make your plan, and take it one step at a time.  It may be a long journey, but that’s ok.  Enjoy the moments along the way, and keep going.  Learn from the setbacks and keep going.  

During an icebreaker at a work leadership meeting a while back, we were all to choose adjectives for our teammates.  I was given the word ‘relentless’ by a colleague.  We all kind of laughed at it.  It was a different one.  I wasn’t even sure how I felt about that one.  For some reason I had a slightly negative connotation with the word.  Now I fully embrace it.  I am absolutely relentless.  If I have a goal in my mind, I won’t give up until I achieve it.  If it’s what I truly want, I’m going for it and nothing will stop me.  I am relentless.  I believe that.

Ultimately, it all comes down to believing in yourself.  Do this, and you can achieve anything that you want.  So dream big, you deserve it.  Make your resolutions, or goals or simply -daily decisions.  Enjoy the journey and never give up on yourself.