New Year’s resolutions get a bad rap. Many people scoff at others who make them, prophesying the fact that the resolutions will not stick. And with good reason, since most of us who make resolutions often abandon them early in the year.
I’ve also noticed that those who scoff at others who make resolutions usually fail to grow personally themselves. They mock others who have a plan to grow but fail. Yet, they have no plan nor growth themselves. Seems to me it’s better to try and fail than to not try at all.
I think New Year’s resolutions are a good idea. I firmly believe in the principle of living an INTENTIONAL life. On old saying reminds us, “Aim at nothing, and you are sure to hit it.” New Year’s resolutions provide us a goal, a pathway to growth.
In 2 Peter 3:18, Peter challenges us to grow, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” Notice the first word, “BUT.” Why did he start the verse that way?
In the preceding verse, Peter warns them not to not get carried away into error and lose their stability. Then encourages them to grow. So he presents two options – decline or grow. No middle ground, we either grow or we backslide. New Year’s resolutions at least give us a plan to grow.
The Benefits of Resolutions
First of all, New Year’s resolutions are an admission they we need to improve. Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Trust me. You, just like me, have lots of room to grow. Unwillingness to own our shortcomings robs us of the opportunity to become a better version of ourselves. Even worse is knowing our shortcomings and being unwilling to address them.
Moreover, New Year’s resolutions provide a framework of intentionality within which we can work to better ourselves. It’s not enough to want to “be a better person.” We will make greater improvements when we specifically choose one or two shortcomings to work on at a time.
Additionally, resolutions present the opportunity for accountability. When we specify parts of our lives we want to improve, we reveal plans and are more likely to follow through. Without resolutions, our desire to improve is nothing more than a nebulous, non-specific dream.
Setting Resolutions
If you plan to establish some resolutions for the coming year, maybe these ideas will help you successfully establish and achieve them.
Make your goals challenging yet reasonable. Most people err in one of two extremes – goals that are either too easy or too difficult. Push yourself, but keep it real.
Break your plan down into increments. If your goal is to lose weight, set a goal to lose a fraction of amount in the first three months. You will gain added momentum from the small victories on the shorter terms.
Put your resolutions in writing. Make a list of what you want to accomplish and why you want to accomplish it. Look at your list every morning to remind yourself of the improvements you desire. As you look at the list each morning, you can strategize plans for that particular day that move you toward your goal.
Finally, share your goal with a trusted friend who will hold you accountable. You might also have a friend who has a similar resolution. The two of you can challenge, motivate, and encourage each other as you move toward your intended results.
Questions to Consider
- What are some areas of my life I would like to improve in 2019?
- What changes must I make to see these improvements happen?
- Do I have a trusted friend to whom I can make myself accountable for working on these areas?
Comment section is open. What have you done it help your resolutions become reality? What are some areas you want to improve in 2019?