NEWYEAR RESOLUTION

NEWYEAR RESOLUTION?

A New Year's resolution is a commitment/declaration that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the change of a habit. A key element to a New Year's resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings.

The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions dates as far back to 153 B.C. The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, a mythical king of early Rome. He was god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus. (January was named after this Roman King).

There are many other religious practices similar to this tradition;

The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.

In the Medieval era, the knights took the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.

At watch night services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions.

Writing New Year’s Resolution is just a tradition, and like many traditions it has come to stay. But how effective is a New Year’s resolution?   A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail.

I do not put much faith in New Year's resolutions. While it is good to think that you have intentions of improving yourself, why only make this goal on New Year's Day? Why not set a goal any time of the year? For example, a diet can be started any time and maybe January is not the best time to do it. If you need to improve anything about yourself, just begin any time. There is no better time to start to change you than today!!!

For me, I make a list of goals - long term, intermediate and short term goals. I review them every month and try to think of action items to help me succeed. Sometimes I stay on track sometimes not and I try never to have more than a handful at a time.

Here are key ways in which you can achieve more in a given year;

1.) Evaluate your days more often: Do not wait for big occasions like the New Year to set your goals. "There's no difference between New Year's and any other time,"  "If you want to do something new, that should happen as soon it is possible." If you realize you're overweight and want to shed the excess weight, why wait until January to do so?

2.) Reminisce on the positive: Think more of the things that you were able to achieve in the past. This should encourage you and propel you to achieve more. If you could achieve in the past, you would have more confidence to achieve in the future, Focusing more on what you could not achieve may discourage you, while positive feedback and rewards increase your chance of success.

3.) Always clean up the past and take the future one step at a time: Set short term goals, achieve one goal before moving to the next. Be specific not vague, e.g:

• Resolution: Quit smoking instead set short goal: Stop smoking that 1 cigarette you have after breakfast.
• Resolution: Eat healthy food instead set short goal: Start substituting that Coca-Cola with table water.
• Resolution: Lose Weight instead set short goal: Every evening after work, go for a 10 minute run or walk around the block.
• Resolution: Get closer to God instead set short goal: Meditate and pray for 5 minutes every morning after you wake up.

With all this info, the only thing that’s left for me to ask: Do you believe in setting New Year’s resolutions? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments.