It seems like a perfectly natural thing to do, making a New Year's Resolution. Using the calendar change as a catalyst to change something about our lives that we don't like, or want to improve, or just to use as a motivator for change. Something about the hype we are subjected to makes us feel like this time, we can make that change, because we have a starting point that is instantly recognizable - a date that is easy to remember, January 1 of the new year. So why doesn't this work? For the same reason as making change starting any other time of year is difficult to make work. In fact... it may be even more difficult to stick to the change if it is made as part of that New Year's goal setting, or resolution, or whatever you frame it as - because it's a running joke - how long can you stick to that resolution? No one does, so why should you?
Most years, I don't set a resolution, however, I do usually try to "reset", recharge, set some goals, refresh my vision board, or any number of other reasonable facsimiles of a New Year's Resolution without calling it that. I know I won't likely stick to it for very long, but I usually come up with an equally long list of excuses. Something else came up, don't have time, life happens, things change.... But realistically, it is usually because I'm not willing to make the change long-term. Few of us are. We have lofty goals because we (often) have just had a few extra days off work, spent some rejuvenating time with family, are sensing an overwhelm of food coma and lazy naps and the effects of living as though "it's just this one last time before I get healthier in the New Year". And then New Year's Day hits, and we have tons of energy and some extra time to focus on those new goals - for a day. And then we go back to work, and back to our old habits.
So this year, I'm not changing anything. I am, but I'm not tying it to New Year's Day, or goals, or a resolution based on the past. I'm looking forward. I'm focusing simply on priorities, priorities that are based on values, ethics, choices, mindful and conscious decisions that are contributing simply to the best thing I can do for myself right now. Because, life isn't forever, and we don't get to choose very much of what goes on around us, we can only choose how we react to that. And in the past few years, that has been very difficult. Climate change crisis, global pandemics, a spike in unethical and criminal behaviour victimizing more and more people, war, racism, so many social and cultural and political issues.....
I can change only a tiny little bit of that. I can influence - maybe - by making sure going forward that I minimize my environmental impact, take care of my physical self by nourishing it with real food and only what I need to be healthy, protect my privacy and financial affairs by securing my public information and remaining aware of online threats, and disconnecting from those who exhibit racist, angry or derogatory behaviour. As I have tried to do my whole life. Hopefully, more and more people will also focus on these priorities if they are not already, but I am not here to change the world. I am here to make sure I do not make it any worse.
Happy New Year. Every.... single.... day.
