Wasn’t it June only a week ago? Now, with the crazy holiday season nearly upon us, it's already time to start thinking about 2017! That being said, instead of setting myself up for disappointment, I think it's time to make some anti-resolutions. In other words, things I can do without in 2017 – things I'm pretty sure you can too.
1. Trying to do it all.
Productivity! Hard work! Efficiency! God, it's exhausting. Sometimes the most important thing to remember is that "you can do anything, but not everything." Forget multitasking. Take it one step at a time and give everything 100%.
2. Staying comfortable.
Surprise! I don't want to live a comfortable life. I don't want every day to be easy, familiar, ordinary. Stepping outside my comfort zone means taking on challenges, breaking habits, pushing boundaries and trusting my instinct. Also, I really want to learn to dance.
3. Perfectionism.
It's so easy for "striving for excellence" to get out of control. The impossible standards, the unrealistic expectations, the all-or-nothing approach – sometimes it hurts more than it helps. What would happen if I let myself make a mess, loved myself for being flawed and failed with grace? It's time to find out.
4. Worrying.
Corrie Ten Boom said it best: "Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. It empties today of its strengths." Note to self: everything is going to be okay. Keep going.
5. Judging myself.
Isn't it sad how being gentle with ourselves is often the hardest thing to do? The pressure to be unhappy and unsatisfied with our lives is overwhelming, crippling and suffocating. We can either be our own best friend or our worst enemy. Me? I choose to be enough.
6. Overthinking.
I don't know about you, but I'm spectacularly talented at the art of creating problems that weren't ever there. Reminder: worrying about how things can go wrong won't help them go right. Keep calm and keep your chin up.
7. Social media.
I wonder how much time I would have on my hands if I didn't use those ten spare minutes to scroll aimlessly through Instagram or *cough* stalk people on Facebook. The more I use it, the more I realize that social media isn't just addicting and time-consuming; it can create dissatisfaction and ungratefulness that skews my perspective of life. I've never regretted silencing notifications and turning off my phone, and I want to do more of it.
8. Looking "good."
Real talk: most people are too concerned with their own appearance to worry about yours. I want to love myself enough to feel confident no matter what I wear or weigh. I want to love myself enough to find ways to be beautiful that don't involve my appearance. I want to love myself enough to let go of the world's impossible definition of beauty and find my own.
9. Being bored.
Honestly? I don't know how I find time to bored when I always have so much to do, but it happens. (Sometimes I'm just tired of writing papers, okay?) I wouldn't mind if 2017 was filled with more creativity, risk and spontaneity. Life is to short to be bored of it.
10. Doing it myself.
Okay, okay, this is my weakness: wanting to be self-sufficient and independent, relying only on me, myself and I. There's something comforting about it, but also something sad. And lonely. In 2017, I want to lean more on God and the beautiful souls around me. It's okay to need someone. It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to reach out.
Your turn – what are your anti-resolutions for the next year?
