The last week of the year is infamous for setting overly ambitious New Year's resolutions and going out at night to defy those very eager goals, one drunk mistake at a time. Although most of our resolutions might not be the same, one thing is for sure: we are all victims of breaking our own promises and "accidentally" doing that thing we said we wouldn't do ever again.

Whether or not we actually accomplish our goals is typically determined by the existing patterns that we've already solidified throughout the previous year. It's easier to dream about breaking old, unhealthy habits than it is to accomplish them. Why? Because most of us refuse to acknowledge that setting an intention is not the same as putting in the day-to-day effort to rearrange those toxic patterns.

Some would even say that people enjoy lingering around those "negative" or "toxic" habits because it's easier to complain about them than it is to actually put in the work to overcome them. Whether it'd be doing more exercise, reducing single-use plastic consumption or choosing to be kinder to the people around you, it's important to recognize that your actions are ultimately a reflection of your thinking patterns. So, if we merely focus on our actions (i.e. exercising every day, recycling, etc.), we are basically playing "pretend" until February rolls in and we completely forget about our goals all-together.

Recognizing those toxic patterns and wanting to break them is always the first step. However, real growth takes place when we understand the weight of our actions and how it fits into the bigger picture. As we approach a new year and decade, perhaps choose to let go of the trendy New Year's resolutions and instead choose to set intentions that actually hold space for growth. If it's changing your diet, then perhaps switch the "I will not eat meat for a month" to "I will work on resisting my impulsivity."

Whatever your New Year's Eve resolution might be, know that it's okay to slowly transition into those goals and you might mess up a couple of times before you get it right. What's not okay is complaining about those toxic patterns without putting any actual effort to defeat them. As cliché as it might sound, you already have all the tools you need to become the best version of yourself.