Beyond New Year Resolutions: Creating What You Care For
Every year, millions of people make New Year resolutions, hoping to improve some aspect of their lives. However, research shows that only a small fraction of them actually stick to their goals and achieve the desired outcomes. Why is that? And how can we create more meaningful and lasting changes in our lives?
One of the reasons why New Year resolutions often fail is that they are based on external expectations or pressures, rather than on our own intrinsic values and motivations. For example, we may set a goal to lose weight because we want to look good for others, or to quit smoking because we feel guilty or ashamed. These goals may not reflect what we truly care about or enjoy, and therefore they are not very inspiring or rewarding.
Another reason why New Year resolutions may not work is that they are too vague or unrealistic, and do not have a clear plan or strategy to achieve them. For example, we may say that we want to be happier, healthier, or more productive, but we do not specify how we will measure our progress, what actions we will take, or what obstacles we may face. Without a concrete and realistic plan, we may lose focus, motivation, or confidence along the way.
So how can we create more effective and fulfilling changes in our lives? One possible approach is to shift from making resolutions to creating intentions. An intention is a statement of what we want to create or experience in our lives, based on our core values and passions. Unlike a resolution, an intention is not a fixed or rigid goal, but a flexible and adaptable direction that guides our choices and actions.
To create an intention, we can start by asking ourselves some questions, such as:
- What do I care about most in my life?
- What makes me feel alive and joyful?
- What do I want to contribute to the world?
- How do I want to grow and learn as a person?
These questions can help us identify our values and passions, and then we can craft a simple and positive statement that expresses our intention. For example:
- I intend to live with gratitude and compassion.
- I intend to express my creativity and share it with others.
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- I intend to challenge myself and learn new skills.
- I intend to nurture my health and well-being.
Once we have created our intention, we can then align our actions and habits with it. This does not mean that we have to change everything at once, or that we have to be perfect all the time. It means that we can make small and consistent steps that move us closer to our intention, and celebrate our achievements along the way. For example:
- If I intend to live with gratitude and compassion, I can practice daily gratitude journaling, volunteer for a cause I care about, or perform random acts of kindness.
- If I intend to express my creativity and share it with others, I can dedicate some time every week to pursue a hobby I love, join a community of like-minded people, or showcase my work online or offline.
- If I intend to challenge myself and learn new skills, I can enroll in an online course, read a book on a topic I'm curious about, or try something new that scares me.
- If I intend to nurture my health and well-being, I can adopt a balanced diet, exercise regularly, meditate, or get enough sleep.
By creating intentions based on our values and passions, and aligning our actions and habits with them, we can create more meaningful and lasting changes in our lives. We can also enjoy the process more, as we are not driven by external pressure or guilt, but by internal motivation and joy. And we can be more flexible and resilient when facing challenges or setbacks, as we are not attached to a specific outcome or timeline, but to a broader vision and purpose.
As the new year approaches, let us go beyond making resolutions that may not last. Let us create intentions that reflect what we care for most in our lives. And let us act on them every day with courage and enthusiasm.