NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
Once again, the time has come, as we look back through the calendar and realize how fast another 365 days have blown by. We are now older and hopefully more experienced through, meeting new people, experiencing unique places, accomplishing achievements and uncovering fresh opportunities. A full year seems to be more than enough time to do whatever, but, did you have enough time for that New Year resolution you passionately promised one year ago? If you did, congratulations, but don't worry if you prefer not to remember because you simply didn't make it, you are not alone. Don't be ashamed, most of the great ideas we think we can do are just too much of a change in our daily routines and during the adjustment period might add more stress than actually improve your life while you see your goal far away. No wonder we quit, it's part of nature to take the right step, when the time is right.
But there is hope! A New Year resolution is not impossible. Think of this, all of our lives, we have challenges like that, since kindergarten until our PhD, each one is hard enough to achieve at its time, and that is only on the education side. Work, might add you another bunch of responsibilities, family and friends can leave you almost with no time for yourself. Even though, we go through, we see the light at the end and follow it. So a couple of things more to do, like New Year resolutions, should not be big deal, as far as they are the right things for you. (like your chosen education, work, family and friends).
The problem I see here has its roots in three simple points we can easily spot in order to make the right resolution:
PIECE OF CAKE RESOLUTION: They always seem to be doable, we think we can make it, just because it is something we use to do or be like before.
THIS IS THE RIGHT MOMENT RESOLUTION: By the time we are supposed to start doing them, we are fresh and renewed, interesting thing that occurs to us considering that as 24 hour days there is not a huge difference between the last of December and the first of January.
JUST BECAUSE RESOLUTION: We feel that is badly necessary, that reason we can't explain pushes us to the limit and reinforces the other two points. Whatever your resolution is might be extremely good for your health, or your family, or your work... maybe even the world itself. But the biggest goals usually mean walking straight paths, with bumps and hill to climb.
I have to clarify, I am not against New Year's Resolutions, I actually think it is good (if not necessary) to set personal goals to get anywhere and grow. What I really want is to reflect on how to make them work properly. New Year resolutions must be custom made and should have a strong basis of your personal situations
So here is a clue. Considering the three mentioned points above, think of something you can actually do, something that is not likely going to brake your routine but instead fits right in it and also is important for you, I want to make strong emphasis on that; It should be important for you! Something that motivates you and fills you is easier to do and big changes start by spared seeds. You have to do it right for yourself first. The last thing to mention, be real, of course, pinch and feel, envision something to believe in. No one can suddenly start working out 2 hours a day when the last time entering a gym was high school. No one can quit smoking from one pack a day to nicotine gum after lunch. How can someone save 50 bucks a week when things like education and living expenses keep you away from eating out once a week? It's just like dancing, one step at a time. Little steps correctly taken can take you anywhere; there are one million dollar bills in a one million dollar savings account. It is good to keep and respect traditions, such as making resolutions every New Year.
Good luck and happy holidays!
