The more years that pass, the more negativity I hear surrounding the concept of New Year’s resolutions. People drop them almost as quickly as they make them, giving them a flaky and unsupported reputation. But when you really think about it, resolutions are an amazing thing. We are able to look inside ourselves, see something that we want and know we need to change, and make a statement declaring that we will.
The first couple of days start out strong, willing and dedicated. But sometimes, it isn’t even a week into the New Year when these self-promised goals lose their spirit. But why is that? All the time and reflection spent choosing them is wasted, and an entire year passes as you exist through life as the same person. Sure, events and people may change and shape you; but you have got to feel a fire from within to change yourself. Only then will your change feel satisfying.
Because at the heart of the matter, the year will pass anyway. You will wake up each and every one of the 365 days and have all the power in the world to shape the life you envision. So, do it. Don’t sit around and give up on the changes you’ve been hoping to make. Don’t abandon those New Year’s resolutions that you know will only make you love yourself more. Because on December 31st, you don’t want to find that the months, days, hours, and seconds have passed and you have stayed the same.
But even more, realize that January 1st isn’t the only chance you have to make a change. It’s a great separation and marker for a transformation, but April 22nd, July 6th, and October 13th are all just as great of days to make a change. The second you feel something in your soul rumble for new aspirations, you roll with that feeling and you ride it out. You make waves and you don’t stop until you feel a metamorphosis occurring. You will be proud that you possessed the courage to push through the difficult, “I want to give up,” moments and went for the bigger and bolder life each time you were tested.
As for me, I have resolutions that I not only hope to fulfill, but that I know I can achieve. I will spend less time aimlessly wasting time scrolling through social media. I love social media and I hope to work with it within marketing for my career in the coming years. But for its personal use, it is toxic. For each and every one of us, it is toxic. It is the world of procrastination, narcissism, and, most importantly, comparison. It is where people go to embellish their lives to appear as if they are perfect. You cannot compare your average day against the embellishment of someone else’s Instagram post. That is why I will change this part of my daily routine. I will not remove social media from my life, but I be deliberate with it. No more aimless scrolling, especially when surrounded by friends and family. I will get my head out of a screen and into the moment that is occurring right before my eyes in real time.
And with that comes my biggest goal for 2017: To be present. To not live in the future, but to live each passing second as it comes. Not worrying about what might happen next week, next month, or in 5 years. Because all of that may change in one of the current passing seconds. You never know whom you could meet, the events that could unfold, and the happiness you could find if you would just look up and take it all in.
So, make some resolutions. Or, rather, some goals. Ones that are realistic and that which will make you feel fulfilled and alive. That will make you feel appreciative to be right where you are in 2017. And on December 31st, I hope you are happy that you decided to make a change for the better.
