We are quickly approaching the depths of that widely anticipated time of the year when the lulls of winter appear inescapable. Annually, as we grow increasingly sickened of the winter weather, we start to lose the grasp of our New Year’s resolutions. I’m here to help you remember why you adopted these resolutions in the first place along with why and how you should go about sticking to them.
I should probably start by acknowledging the fact that many of you may not even have any resolutions. To those of you who aren’t taking those steps towards self-improvement, I truly encourage you to conjure a few ways to make your lives better. It can be something as simple as getting more sleep or exercise. A resolution doesn’t have to be rung in with the new year; you can change anything you want to about yourself and your life at any time. One of the greatest things about being an independent being is the freedom of choice and adaptation that accompanies it. When you think of a resolution, work to make it measurable. Specifying your goals will make it automatically easier to achieve them. For example, if your resolution is to drink more water, say you want to drink at least four glasses of water per day. If your resolution is to read more, say you want to read ten pages a day. This encourages you to take action and ensures that you will feel a greater sense of accomplishment.
After practicing your new lifestyle change for a certain amount of time, it’s natural and to be expected that you start to lose sight of it and ponder the prospect of giving it up. This circumstance is so easy to face and yet so easy to defeat. One of my resolutions for this year is to meditate daily. You can imagine my dismay on the numerous occasions when I approach the precipice of bed and realize I have forgotten to meditate. It’s really difficult to stick to certain things sometimes. However, what I’m about to tell you will immediately nullify your lack of motivation: Remember why you started. This is really an imperative step to the solution of your disinterest. When we remember why we do things, they will automatically become more enjoyable. Remember that the next time you are studying. What are you studying for? A certain job? College? Why did you initially want to go to bed earlier? Did you want to feel more alert? If you continue to pursue your goal with purpose hovering over you, I guarantee you won’t flirt with the idea of giving up again.
Resolutions evolve over time, and if you find yourself with a product that looks different than the original goal, that is completely okay. Sometimes, carrying on with a resolution is more about changing and growing as a person than it is about having a finished product. If your goal was to make your bed everyday and you did not accomplish this goal, please don’t see this as a manifestation of failure. Instead, think about how the unintended result changed you as an individual. Do you find you’re able to listen to yourself and understand yourself to a greater degree of efficacy? Do you have more motivation resulting from the times that you did make your bed in the morning? If the answer is yes to any question that you pose to yourself surrounding your goal, then you can be secure in the knowledge that you have succeeded at something. Revel in that feeling and remember it the next time you start rolling out plans for a new expedition.
Ultimately, we’re all just trying to be better than we were a second ago. Life is about changes of varying sizes. If there’s one thing I encourage you to take away from this is the fact that every step that you take to change is beneficial no matter how minute. Correspondingly, every resolution is valid and conducive to some form of success. Take the first step to the life you want by practicing one thing that can push you there.