Resolutions are a Thing of the Past
Throughout the week between Christmas and New Year’s, I traditionally spend time reflecting on the year that is wrapping up and the changes I’d like to make for the year ahead.
There was a time in my life when I set New Year’s Resolutions as part of my reflection. Oftentimes I forgot about my resolutions well before spring, never meeting them, and feeling like a failure. I have read that I am not alone in this. Research suggests that only 9% of Americans that make New Year’s Resolutions actually complete them. Research also says that 23% of people quit their resolutions by the end of the first week and 43% quit by the end of January. These statistics got me thinking….why are resolutions so hard to stick to? Here’s what I’ve concluded……
I think that my resolutions of the past, more or less, were a statement to change something I wanted to fix about myself. Therefore, they inspired negative thoughts about my current situation. Then, after I set them, my resolutions felt like lofty goals that were nearly impossible to reach! As a result, I put more pressure on myself than ever to create change. My resolutions focused on the negative in my life, put a spotlight on what I was lacking, and became too strict. My “all or nothing” mentality about it all gave me very little flexibility, creating a perfect storm to set me up for failure.
Wow….I have never put those thoughts on my New Year’s Resolutions down on paper or said them out loud before! When I write it like that, it is no wonder that I no longer have the desire to set New Year’s Resolutions.
As an alternative, I like to set what I call, “New Year's Intentions.” What is the difference between an intention and a resolution? Good question! I wish I knew who said this, but it seems like a fitting way to begin….
“Time is not refundable. Use it with intention.”
The biggest difference between an intention and a resolution is that my intentions approach my goals with more compassion for myself, making me feel less pressured and more inspired. Intentions don’t imply that something is wrong with the way I currently live my life. In fact, it simply inspires and motivates me to live even better. My intentions focus on the positive, highlight what I have in my life, are adaptable, and seem to work for me!
People set intentions all the time! I often set intentions for my day as part of my morning meditations. I’ve also set intentions for my yoga practice at the start of class. Intentions are something to live by that we can carry with us throughout the day, a moment, or in this case, throughout the year (and years to come!). When an intention is set, we are choosing to live more mindfully and open to new outcomes. So how can you go about setting an intention for 2024?
I learned how to do this from reading a “Thrive Yoga & Wellness” blog post back in 2020. It says, to go about setting a powerful intention in the new year, do the following:
Be clear about what you want to cultivate in your life to create an intention.
Create an affirmation around your intention (that’s an “I am” statement that you can repeat to yourself in the present tense as if it is already true).
Simplify your intention into a one-word mantra.
Write down your intention, affirmation, and mantra. Save it on your phone, repeat it to yourself during meditation, yoga, breathwork, or anytime throughout your day! Make reading these things part of your everyday routine.
Here are some examples of intentions. If you like them, feel free to use one. But I encourage you to be creative and try writing your own unique idea! If you’d like a little help creating an intention, you know I’m here for you! Don’t hesitate to reach out. But I figured a few examples may help clarify how to set one. Here are a few:
INTENTION: I want a promotion in my job so I can make more money and travel more often.
AFFIRMATION: I am worthy of my dreams and I am on my way to making them a reality.
MANTRA: Success
-or-
INTENTION: I want to live a more healthy lifestyle by losing weight and exercising more often.
AFFIRMATION: I am healthy and am capable of taking good care of my body.
MANTRA: Health
-or-
INTENTION: I intend to save money so I can support and contribute to my family and live more comfortably.
AFFIRMATION: I am responsible with my spending and I’m on the path toward increasing my savings.
MANTRA: Abundance
Writing this has made me excited to form my own intentions for 2024. I clearly haven’t done that yet….these things take time. They are “intentional” after all, which according to my Webster dictionary, means created “by design.” We have the power to create and manifest anything we’d like with the time we have left on this planet….why not take some time to do it with purpose?
Be well, my friends! And have the Happiest New Year yet!
