Ditch the New Year’s Resolutions?
Instead of New Year’s resolutions, why not begin the year by looking at our accomplishments and counting our blessings? Gratitude is much more uplifting than feeling the pressure of a “to-do list.”
The new year is around the corner and a time full of enthusiasm. Everybody thinks about doing everything better in the new year. Right? Unfortunately, most of the New Year’s resolutions will not happen.
Everyone knows the ritual of good intentions for the New Year. Just as well, most people see the phenomenon that such plans evaporate after a few weeks.
I came a long time ago to the conclusion that the only good New Year’s resolution is this: no New Year’s resolutions! And I grew up without this slogan; nobody did talk about resolutions when I was a kid.
I prefer to be flexible. In my opinion, making resolutions does not work.
It is good to have a goal, and clarity and resolutions may be steps that we consider helping us to reach the goal. But we are also living beings, and life happens around us.
Ditch these New Year’s Resolutions – Be flexible.
I see no sense in time-controlled New Year’s resolutions or goals, and this is liberating. It makes us able to look for possibilities and new opportunities on the way.
It is quite beneficial and essential to reflect on our thinking and doing and, if needed, take new directions. Be open to ideas and possibilities.
Do not forget the Universal Laws.
Everything is energy; all work by the laws of nature. Many forget about this or are not aware. What about the law of attraction? Everybody talks about it. If we are not tuning into these energies, our minds may even work against us.
What is possible and what is not is not your business. Nature will decide this. Your business is just to work for what truly matters to you. Sadhguru.
But why do many like to move things into the future in the form of good intentions? And why do many set goals that they only can achieve with exaggerated compulsion? Going after goals like this will bring struggle and depression.
“The choice is always before you: to respond consciously to the present or to react compulsively to it. There is a vast difference between the two. And it can make a world of difference.”-Sadhguru.
Every goal that does not take us into account as human beings, with all our strengths and weaknesses, everything that makes us human, including laziness, delay, distraction, and self-doubt, is not a good goal. Some plans people sometimes talk about might be viable for a robot but not for a human.
Why wait for New Year? Implement changes right now
Is it not better to implement changes right now when we are aware of it?
Not better to take it easy and be flexible? We are here to live and also should enjoy the process, the way to the goal.
If you fail with a resolution, you do not have to wait until a new year starts again. It would put a lot of pressure on you, but you can continue to build on your previous achievements. There is no failure; a supposed failure is a stepping stone or the soil on which success will grow. With that attitude, you no longer only work toward a goal in the future but can also value your journey in the present.
Appreciate your accomplishments
How about taking time at the beginning of the new year to look back and appreciate your accomplishments?
Do not rush to set one goal after the other; as soon as one thing is achieved, impatiently strive towards the next. With the desire to improve ourselves and the future, we often forget to acknowledge the goals that we have already achieved.
Rather, stop and reflect on your previous success! Think about what you did in the past year and what intentions you have already put into action. Maybe write it down.
Live in the present.
Nothing changes from one day to the next. Therefore, let us live in the present! Because only the present moment exists. From the Now, every change unfolds. Be aware of the possibilities and enjoy the journey. Is it not our aspiration to live consciously and in full presence every day and every moment?
Everyone should have the desire to develop more consciously, to act mindful, and to create a more loving, peaceful world.
Make the year ahead the best of your life. All the best! Happy New Year 🙂
See How You Can Improve Your Life if You Change Your Thinking
See also Learn How A Positive Attitude Can Help You To A Successful Life.
updated Dez. 2022
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You are right, we live in present. But most people think either about their past or plan for the future, without realizing that they are losing their present. Wonderful piece and many thanks for sharing such an awesome topic.
Santanu recently posted…Christmas & New Year WordPress Deals 2019 (Massive Discount)
Hi Santanu,
you are right, people live in the past or future, which is not in reality.
It would be less fear and struggle if people would live in the present and realize that they themselves create the future.
Good to be conscious of this and chose the next step in the direction wanted, rather than what they think circumstances allow. 🙂
Being aware of possibilities and taking advantage of opportunities to get to the goal. This only works by living in the present.
Thank you for your comment
To your successful year 2019
Erika
I never did understand these resolutions, and haven’t made them in decades!
Good for you, Davida
The same as me, I go after my goals when I feel the time is right and usually by following intuition, I get what I want.
Thank you for your comment
Erika
Hi Erika mam, Nowadays people are working like machines they don’t have time for self. wonderful article thanks for sharing.
sazia recently posted…گرین کافی حیرت انگیز صحت کے فوائد اور موٹاپا کم کرنے کے تجاویز
Yes, Sazia
You are right, but we are not machines, but in the future work will be done by robots.
We will realize that we missed out to take care of ourselves as human beings.
Thanks, for your comment.
Have a beautiful and successful year 2019
All the best
Erika
Hi Erika,
My two big accomplishment that could count as resolutions did not happen on New Years. Like you I do not follow that custom. Setting a goal to accomplish should come when you are ready to accomplish such a goal. There should not be a pressure as to when such a goal is set, that only adds stress and makes the hole thing harder to achieve.
Thanks Erika
Happy New Years
William Denver recently posted…The China Secret Review
You are right, William
It is easier to reach a goal if we feel it is the right time and we are ambitious about.
Under pressure an only if it is a time tradition dictates, never works out.
Most people anyways ditch resolutions after a short time, so why not start a new year,
looking back with gratitude, which makes feel much better.
Thank you for your visit an comment.
To your successful year 2019
Erika
This year, i kept one thing in mind and going to work on that. Live in the Present 🙂 as you mentioned. 🙂 No use when we work hard and hard and wake up just to spend another day thinking about the past and future.
Well written article Erika 🙂
Robin.
Robin,
Good, you are clear about what you want. Living in the present and taking steps in the right direction will help.
The past is over and the future is what you create. Make it a pleasant one.
All the best.
Thanks for your comment.
very good article for us.
Good, you found the Post helpful 🙂
Thank you
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Very relatable post indeed. We often focus on the past and take decisions for the future. There are no bandwidth for present. I have one resolution for 2020. Focus more on the present. Thanks again for this beautiful article
Hi Chayan
Right, focus more on the present and go with the flow. Be flexible if Ideas are coming and opportunities show up you can act.
Thank you for your comment
Erika
Very awesome! I like the part you said… “most people see the phenomenon that such plans evaporate after a few weeks.” You didn’t just cite the problem but offered some set of solutions. What worth doing at all, worth doing well and must be done right away! Why waiting for 2020 to improve on your business, why not now? Thanks for this great lesson, ma!
Hi Lawal,
Is it not so that most resolutions are forgotten after a while? Better to be aware of ideas and possibilities which show up and act right away.
If we hold on to resolutions we may miss to act on the good opportunities in the present. We need to know our WHY but the HOW is usually coming in unexpected ways. We need to be aware and flexible if we see what feels right to do next.
Thank you for your comment
Erika
Thank you for the reminder to live in the present! With New Year’s Resolutions, there’s very much a lot of “I’ll accomplish this in the future” mentality, and it can lead to a lifetime of feeling unfulfilled. We’re always trying to make up time at the last part of the year or start strong at the beginning. Time to be moderate, balanced, and maintain each and every day!
Christian Steinsworth recently posted…25 Ways to Help People During a Recession
You are welcome, Christian; yes, in our time, we want too much in a short time and forget to live and enjoy the present.
Thank you for your comment
Happy New Year
Erika
I resonate deeply with this Erika because time is an illusion, really. Letting go a goal set in time moves you to the moment, or, the present. The moment is all that exists. It extends into eternity. Right now, I am up at 4 AM after experiencing some insomnia plus generating a few ideas in the moment for my blog, blogging business and online life in general. I just run with it. I am not thinking forward for a year. I am just doing the best I can right now by allowing my intuition to guide me. Fabulous blog post my friend. Keep up the great blogging work.
Ryan Biddulph recently posted…Why Should You Never Publish a Negative eBook Review as a Blogger?
Following intuition is the best we can do, Ryan. We can have goals, but set in a time; usually, they do not work. We are not alone in this world, and unexpected situations can show up that also need our attention. It would need an Ego to go mercilessly after what we want. The universe, God, has its own time to give us what we want. If we do what we can in the present and follow our intuition, we know when the time is right to act.
Thank you for your thoughts. I am happy you liked the post.
Erika