Like the great mask debate- people are split on whether to make New Year’s Resolutions or not. We are almost a month into the New Year- if you made resolutions- are you actively working on them or have you already broken them? Did you mindlessly put sugar in your coffee (#1 Cut out sugar) or have a cocktail because the Covid news was so bad? (#2 Quit drinking)
Alot of folks I heard from just aren’t feeling into resolutions. They are not feeling the resolution vibe.
But New Years Resolutions are just one of the rituals and traditions of the season. My husband believes that you need to have a clean house, including laundry done to start the new year off “fresh”.
I read somewhere that only 29% of people were planning to make resolutions this year down from 43% last year. Every New Year’s Eve, millions of people around the globe celebrate with the hope that next year will be better than the last. Resolutions are nothing more than a pinkie promise to yourself to do something differently or better.
I can certainly understand any hesitation to commit to meaningful change through resolutions. So much uncertainty. All plans have the potential to be tentative plans. There is a collective feeling of futility and loss of control.
But here are a couple of good reasons to make resolutions:
- Making resolutions sets forth a personal challenge. It is human nature to become contented with our lot in life, and human nature to what to grow and evolve.
- Making resolutions forces us to reflect on where we are and how or what we can improve in our lives.
A couple good things happen when you make resolutions:
You Become Intentional -You made a resolution in the first place because there was some improvement in that area you wanted to see. Even if you don’t keep your resolution, you have identified an area for growth. Maybe you just need to try a different method to achieve the change/growth.
You Look Foward with hope…obviously you think things can get better if you are taking steps for them to be better. That is a hopeful optimism that is much needed right now.
I have been a lump of coal since about Sept 2020, so anything that provides a bit of inspiration, momentum or motivation could be worthwhile.
Give yourself a nudge, rather than a shove. Make your resolutions about what you will do, instead of what you won’t do. Those positive declarations serve as affirmations.
Instead of, “I won’t drink alcohol for 6 months” …. say, “I will increase my consumption of healthy liquids like water, tea, veggie & fruit smoothies.” Affirmations, in the positive are so much more powerful and will increase that positive vibration.
There is something so invigorating knowing that you can start from scratch. That you can make a pinkie promise to yourself to do better.
Resolve to be better. What is your better?
If the pandemic, has you struggling and feeling resolution reluctant, take to journaling. I have created a journal specific to the pandemic. It includes facts about previous pandemics and lots of space to include your thoughts. It is available on Amazon.
Earthen Sojourner 