It’s actually okay to make New Year resolutions.
A lot has been written and said about how New Year resolutions “don’t work” for most people because they go back to their old ways after a couple weeks/months.
Some people now wear it proudly as a badge when they say “I don’t make New Year resolutions”.
But guess what, that’s not true.
While it’s indeed true that so many people fall back and give up on their resolutions after a few months, we all still make them.
All of us, no exception. Sometimes silently, in the quiet of our rooms. Sometimes we write it out on paper. Other times we post it publicly on social media. Or we outright refuse to acknowledge it, and we deny that we made them.
But we all make them. And that’s okay.
Rather than running away from resolutions because of the bad name it has made for itself, why not do yours differently?
Own it. Accept that you have something you’d like to improve. Because whether you accept it or deny it, it does not change the fact that you still need to improve in that aspect of your life. And you’re not doing anyone any favors by refusing to improve.
So yes, go ahead. Feel into it. Be okay with it. Don’t give up before you’ve had a chance to get started simply because you’re scared you’re going to fail again. Even if you’ve had the same goal for 5 years in a row, as long as it’s a real goal of yours, give it another go this year.
But be sure to do something differently this time around to make it work. Write it out. Research on it. Plan it out. Schedule it into your calendar. Get a coach to support you. Declare it publicly for village accountability. And work your way gradually until you fulfill it.
No matter what it takes, as long as it’s within the confines of decency and authenticity, keep going until you’ve achieved your dream. Cos no one else will do it for you.
Happy New Year.