| Article Index |
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| Newsletter - Winter 2009 |
| Anytime Resolutions |
| Paths to Personal Growth and Happiness |
| Purposeful Play |
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Page 2 of 4
“ANYTIME” RESOLUTIONS
The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions goes all the way back to ancient Rome. In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar developed a new calendar and named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and endings.
Janus has always been depicted with two faces, one on the back of his head that allowed him to look into the past and one on the front of his head that allowed him to look into the future. At midnight on December 31st, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and looking forward to the new year. Therefore, he became the symbol of the resolutions made on the 1st day of each year when Romans asked their enemies for forgiveness.
In more modern times, New Year’s Eve is still an occasion for reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the New Year. However we are more apt to think about the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes.
Unfortunately, a major problem is that most of these resolutions are not kept. In 2007, researchers tracked over 3,000 people attempting to achieve a range of goals, including losing weight, visiting the gym, quitting smoking, and drinking less. At the start of the study, 52% of participants were confident they would be successful, but one year later, only 12% actually achieved their goals.
This is a common experience. We resolve to start a diet, to exercise, or to be more patient and loving. Within a short period of time, we realize we are not being 100% successful and so we give up. The next reaction is usually one of guilt and discouragement.
Nonetheless, establishing resolutions can be a very powerful tool for positive change and one that can be utilized throughout the year—anytime is a good time for a fresh start!
Therefore, it’s important to channel your energy and resources in ways that make the process of setting resolutions and achieving goals a satisfying and rewarding experience. Here are three strategies to ensure your success:
1. Take Time to Reflect
Prior to establishing a resoultion or goal, it is important to take time to reflect on what is truly most meaningful to you. Is your resolution something you really want?
If your goal is something someone else said you should do or something you feel you need to do, then it is unlikely to motivate and inspire you. Lou Tice, author of Investment in Excellence, teaches that your goals will have little value unless you feel a deep sense of satisfaction and purpose as you work towards them.
2. Make Room for Change
When committing to any goal, the key to accomplishing more is to do less. In other words, don’t keep trying to jam more and more into your over-crowded schedule— determine to drop several activities instead.
But, first you will need to analyze your priorities. Once you are clear on what is most important to you, then you can drop additional demands that don’t fit the criteria. Saying “no” more often will allow you to say “yes” to your priorities.
Most often, it is the “stuff” in our lives that robs us of the time we want to commit to our goals. A great resource for learning tips and techniques for dealing with all the paper, e-mail, errands, and meetings that can overwhelm us is Getting Things Done. The author of this book, David Allen, believes that clearing the clutter in our environments will free us to live fuller lives.
3. Keep the Promises You Make to Yourself
In a nutshell, a resolution is really about telling ourselves what we are going to do to make our lives better. However, we rarely keep our commitments to ourselves!
Instead, we spend too much time worrying about and fulfilling our responsibilities to others. The important thing to remember is that the true test of our maturity is how steadfast we are in fulfilling our agreements with ourselves.
In conclusion, the ancient tradition of setting New Year’s Resolutions is symbolic of fresh beginnings and unlimited possibilities. However, always keep in mind that anytime is good time for establishing meaningful goals and adopting strategies for honoring those commitments.
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