New Year’s Resolution — Why can’t we keep it

Ahhhh… New Year’s Resolution! One of the hardest things to do in life. If it’s not D.O.A. at the threshold of a new year, it will surely meet its demise. And yes, sooner than you think.

But why? Why? Why?!

Well, folks, a New Year’s resolution is a change, and not a superficial one. It’s a change of your character, attitude, or personality, and the momentum of habits you’ve been building throughout your life. Simply put, it’s a change in who you are.

No wonder it’s quite a task. It has to be. Just imagine—if you try to change yourself, you’ll have to wrestle with your current momentum: the things you’ve been doing for years that have deeply entrenched themselves as your habits. So great is this momentum that a New Year’s resolution can feel like a mere fragile wishful thought, only to be shattered into fragments of disappointment.

If you don’t believe me, take a look at your past New Year’s resolutions. Let’s see. Have you ever made a resolution to diet and exercise daily, hoping to achieve the enviable model figure? Or maybe a resolution to emulate the love and kindness of Mother Teresa? How about resolving to do your best at school or work? Be a better person? Be generous? Faithful? Okay, blah blah blah… I know you did. But you didn’t last a day. Alright, alright—a week!

The fact is, you can’t simply change in the blink of an eye. You can’t just tell yourself, “Tomorrow, I will be this or that, forever.” And Poof!—done!

Nope! Sorry, it won’t work! It will take a long, arduous journey, which in the end, you may or may not succeed in. Most likely, you’ll be the same version of yourself as when you started, though perhaps not physically, but mentally and emotionally. Look at your grandparents. They are more or less the same as they’ve always been, despite their annual New Year’s resolutions. If they’ve been wearing the forlorn faces of grumpiness for years, rest assured, they will continue to do so. Likewise, if they’ve been loving and forgiving, chances are they will remain the same today.

Okay, I must concede, I’m not being totally fair here. Change can actually happen. Forgive me, and allow me to acknowledge and salute those who have made their resolutions worthwhile and successful. I would say, “Kudos to you all.”

Yes, you can change. You really can. However, you must muster all your effort and persevere for quite a while. Plus, you need a ton of patience to forgive yourself for any lapses. But in order to stay the course until the end, you need to build sufficient momentum.

Momentum is the key ingredient. It’s achieved through continuous and steady effort in implementing the desired change. In other words, you must keep going without ceasing. Bear in mind, you are facing the stronger momentum of your past habits, which could easily swallow up the fledgling new one. So, you never stop.

Let’s say you want to lose weight next year, and your plan of attack is working out three times a week. Then, you need to keep it going, week after week. Put forth your best effort and prepare to persevere, for you’ll face the pressure of mental laziness. If your routine is disrupted, don’t distress yourself. Instead, give yourself a dose of patience and continue the regimen. Again, keep on keeping on until the upward momentum is firmly established.

How will you know it? Easy! When love is in the air, you’ve clinched victory. You’ll love what you’ve been doing. The change will not only envelop your mind but your heart as well. The routine will become a part of your life. You simply can’t go on without it. And no one can stop you—not even yourself.

Indeed, it’s hard to accomplish a New Year’s resolution. But if you fully commit your heart and mind to it, nothing is impossible. Remember, some people have done it, and so can you. As the saying goes, “If one can do it, you can do it.”

 

Category: POWER, Self Improvement