As a new year approaches, I have found myself reading and thinking about New Year's Resolutions. Why does a new year seem to beckon a fresh start?
Wikipedia defines a New Year's Resolution as "a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming 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...new beginnings."
I have never been very interested in making New Year's Resolutions. It always seemed a bit trendy to me. Something everyone was doing, usually poorly. I often heard more about people's failed resolutions than their successful ones. But, the closer it got to January 1st, the more I started to get curious...who came up with the New Year's Resolution concept anyway?
The idea of making resolutions at the beginning of a new year originated many years ago. In fact, ancient Babylonians and Romans began each new year by making promises to their gods. While New Year's Resolutions have historically been about developing greater internal character or focusing on doing good to others, resolutions in the 21st century have become more self-centered.
This resolution, from the early 1900's, probably would not be popular today:
My other issue with New Year's Resolutions is that, although they are meant to change behavior completely, the change is usually short lived. This cartoon seems to capture it perfectly:
So how do we make changes that last? How do we make resolutions that we'll keep? Here are some of my ideas...
Start now. You don't have to wait until the new year starts to make a change. Okay, I realize the new year is only a few days away, so there may be no rush to start something new before January 1st. But, what if you were reading this is in February or July?
I began this blog in April, based on the desire to make changes in my life. M and I participated in a marriage seminar in October, in an effort to make positive changes in our relationship. You get the idea...some things can't and shouldn't wait.
Do a task analysis. We use this a lot in education. What it really means, is to break down a task into its smaller parts. This makes it easier to see what part is missing or what may not be understood. It also makes the task more manageable.
I'll give you an example from my own life. You may remember my post about O and his reluctance to participate in the church Christmas program. I stood before my son, crying and in his underwear, only 15 minutes before we had to leave, and thought, we will never make it. Getting him onto the stage was too much to think about in that moment, so I broke down the seemingly enormous task into smaller parts. First up, getting him calm. Second, getting him dressed. Third, getting into the car. And, so on.
Take it one day at a time. New Year's Resolutions should really be New Daily Resolutions. In order to continue moving forward, to accomplish or to get rid of, you have to start new every day.
In May 2011, I decided it was finally time to lose my baby weight. Especially since my baby was then three years old! I lost a total of 20 pounds, which was not easy. But, do you know what has been harder? Maintaining that weight loss. Don't lose any more weight. Don't gain. Stay the same.
Maintenance is difficult. Because, once you go into maintenance mode, you don't think about that thing every moment of every day. It's life as usual. Then, something else takes over your thoughts, and before you know it, that thing you have worked so hard to get rid of, it's back. Or that thing that you've accomplished, isn't happening so often anymore.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Creation is just the beginning. We are alive, ever changing.
Don't stay where you are. Keep moving.
I am a new creation. I can't be stagnant.
You are a new creation. Be one everyday!
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