New Year’s resolutions touch us all at one point in December, whether we like it or not. Like a parrot, it squawks around, making sure it’s heard. New Year’s resolutions. New Year’s resolutions. New Year’s resolutions. “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” now simply seems to be a question that people ask to ignite a conversation. Why has there always been an obsession with New Year’s resolutions? What do they even do for us? Maybe I’m a little cynical. A whirlwind pierces into me. Without even realising I find myself submerged. Captured in the human mouse trap just like everyone around me. I scream infinite possibilities of what my New Year’s resolutions are going to be.
Exercise. Eat healthily. Be good. And so on, the list is endless… Picking a New Year’s resolution is a tradition. Some pick for the challenge, some for the possibility of success. There is a key to achieving, and that is determination. If you don’t set your goal in stone, then you can chop and change as the days go by. A big mistake! This year my New Year’s resolutions descended to reality after realising my unbelievably unrealistic goals. Go running! There’s no pretending I’m Usain Bolt, none at all…
Ten seconds I lasted.
Ten seconds. Yeah that’s how dedicated I am. Ten seconds of running and I was literally dicing with death. So I failed to achieve my New Year’s resolution. How about you? How are you doing? If you’re like me, don’t worry, we’re not alone. We are part of the 78% that fail to stick to their New Year’s resolution annually. Why us though?
This year I vowed many challenging, unearthly things. All things I detest with a passion, yet for some absurd reason I tried to peruse with the agonising torture just because of a brand new year. What’s up with me? Why does a New Year represent punishment? Sadness. Now thinking about it, didn’t I promise all those things last year? Sure did. Guess I’m stuck in my ways like a statue. Thanks a bunch habits!
Did you know that 84% of people make a resolution to start a new habit, leaving the other 16% of the population willing to address a bad habit they already own? You yourself may be categorising your New Year’s resolution. Or three! If you have more than one New Year’s resolution, you are not alone. 67% of people make three plus. New Year does something to us, it makes so optimistic and unrealistic. It’s like having a ray of glimmering sun, beaming right into your eyes and then expecting to be able to see straight. Not happening…
Failure. Now that is a horrible word. Just saying “I’ve failed” leaves us with an arising poisonous feeling. No one would deliberately sign themselves up for failure. I wouldn’t intend to do so, but what if we did it without realising? 1 in 6 people from a survey of 3,000 people admitted to making the same resolution as last year. If it didn’t work last year then why torture yourself again? I don’t know but it’s something many of us participate in. Who knows why we’d set ourselves up for failure a second time?
Now, I’m not claiming that everyone fails their New Year’s resolutions. I know people who have succeeded with great pleasure. These people had analysed what, how and why before choosing. These people had a good tactic, these people were really, really determined. What they chose was something in which they actually really wanted to achieve. Setting ourselves up for exercise however, is a completely different story if you despise exercise.
If you haven’t achieved your New Year’s resolutions don’t worry. You aren’t alone. Just remember that anything can happen as long as you plant the seed, nurture it and patiently wait for it to grow. You don’t have to wait for the start of a new year to better yourself, you can begin this second. You can do it.
Anything…
And if you’re already content as you are, brilliant. You can wait until next year, until you have to conjure up even more crazy New Year’s resolutions!
Thank you very much for taking the time to read. Please share your opinions and leave a comment!