Your Friendly Neighbourhood Therapist’s Guide to Abolishing New Year’s Resolutions.
Happy 2024! Another year behind us.
One of the most commonly asked questions at this time of the year is “What is your New Year’s resolution?” A New Years’ resolution is meant to signify a fresh start with a new drive to achieve a certain goal or make meaningful change. Resolutions can help to set the intention for the year ahead and encourage reflection of one’s purpose in life. However, it can also perpetuate the idea that one needs to be better or isn’t good enough as they are. Therefore, for some people, like myself, such a question can spark anxiety, pressure and a sense of dread over the start of the year.
Many of us already lead exhausting lives. With the rising pressures of society to constantly aim higher, for some of us, simply making it to the end of the year is an accomplishment, let alone getting there having achieved certain goals. Goal-setting or setting new year’s resolutions is meant to be uplifting and inspire hope and empowerment. If it isn’t doing that for you, I’m here to give you permission to not create a new year’s resolution.
Here is what can you do instead.
Take a moment to revisit on all the things that you appreciated or enjoyed from the previous year. Then, plan to do more of it in the coming year!
Focus on what you are looking forward to in the new year, for instance, a vacation, a special birthday, a raise, a concert, etc.
Spend more time in reflection
If change is what you desire, reflect on why this change is important to you. Ask yourself, “Why do I want to make this change, what will I get out of it, and how does it reflect my personal values?” To feel motivated to change, you have to believe it is 1. meaningful, and 2. that you are capable of it. Ask, “What qualities do I have that make me capable of making this change?
Just be you. We’re all flawed in some way and we will remain flawed for the duration of our lives. Embrace all the parts of you, what’s good, what could be better, and what’s just ok. Self-acceptance goes a long way.
That said, I wish all of you readers out there a wonderful new year ahead.
Comments