Every year on December 31st we find ourselves brainstorming for our next New Year's resolution, knowing we’re going to break it after a few weeks. We make a last minute effort to think of something that will improve us as a person whether it's "Go to the gym twice a week" or "Don't eat that extra piece of cake". These are all great ways to make us feel healthier and better about ourselves but how many of us will ensure that these don't become empty promises? To avoid breaking your New Year’s resolution, it’s simple: don’t make one. Rather than obsessing over a “fresh start”, try viewing the New Year for what it really is, a continuation of the past year. Look back on 2015 but don't think about what was wrong with it or what you hated about yourself, think about what was missing or what you could have done better. Think of the opportunities you had but didn’t take, the music that you heard was good but didn’t listen to, the people you saw struggling but didn’t help, the important tests you had but didn’t study enough for. Many people prefer not to reflect on the concept of “What if”, because it implies that we did everything wrong, but I would argue that it does the exact opposite. Thinking “What if” is a great way to ponder different possibilities, as long as it’s in a positive manner. Don’t think, “What if I had taken that job that I turned down? Where would I be now?” but rather, “What if I had been a little nicer to that girl in my class? Maybe she would have had a better day.” Something we forget while being preoccupied over “New Year, New Me” is that even the smallest gestures can make a huge difference to someone else.

Instead of making the New Year all about you, try thinking about how you can make the world a better, more loving place. Happy New Year!