Everyone talks about having their "New Year's resolutions." But why do they end up failing most of the time? In my 20 short years of living, I've learned that maybe it's because they're too surface-level. What if we got down to the core of something we wanted to change, and actually set that as the real goal? I've been thinking about some real resolutions for myself to get some real results. Here's what I've come up with:
Kindness
There's nothing better than people simply being kind. Take the initiative to talk to someone you might not know as well; give someone a real compliment; give back to the people who have given you opportunities; use words that are uplifting, not degrading. How different would your day-to-day life look if you took the time out of your day to be honestly kind to someone that you're not best friends with?
Intentionality
I know that everyone has had that conversation with someone, and it just seems like they're not listening, but then you come across those people who actually listen to you. It feels good, doesn't it? Let's take the time to be those good listeners to everyone we talk to. Be intentional about the small things, be intentional about listening to people, be intentional with being the best version of yourself—it might be the best part of someone's day.
Dieting
Before you stop reading this, I don't mean food diets…Instead, what if we took the time to recognize the bad things in our lives? And got on that diet train for those bad things? Yeah, for some of us, it might be eating too much and working out too little, but what about getting rid of toxic things that don't make us the best version of ourselves? Maybe it's people who bring us down, degrading music, TV shows and movies, social media, food, negative thoughts—whatever it is, maybe that should be a New Year's diet.
Gratitude
I've made this my New Years resolution before, and it changed my life. Take a piece of paper, and write down at least one thing you're thankful for every day. Keep a journal, a note on your phone, whatever it takes to keep a log of it. Taking a mere five seconds to remember how many blessings are in your life is not too much to ask. This has given me a heart of thankfulness that has stuck with me the past year. I continue to do this to always remember the good in my life, even on my worst days. We must know sorrow to experience joy.
Hopefully 2016 brings you, your friends and your family health, love, joy and new beginnings, and that you may have real resolutions with real success. God bless!
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15
