The year has just begun and you may have a list of resolutions that you have already set. The question is, do you really need them? For many people, setting New Year’s resolutions is little more than a tradition that they participate in. It can feel good right now, especially when you’re caught up in the wave of “New Year, New Me” excitement.
But the truth is that the new year arrives and you are still the same as always, with the same quirks and beliefs. And you know what? Alright. You have a uniqueness about you that you shouldn’t try to force into a box with resolutions you don’t really believe in.
Studies have shown that approximately 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February.
So again, do you really need New Year’s resolutions?
Short answer: no, you don’t.
Why?, you ask.
Well, let’s find out, okay?
too much self-criticism
The first reason you don’t need New Year’s resolutions is that they are a prime source of crippling self-criticism.
In my article The 3 Differences Between Resolutions and Intentions, I mentioned how resolutions are a corrective measure. This means that you should focus on each negative thing about yourself and then see how you can solve the problem. The result? You hit yourself too hard.
Paying too much attention to the things we do wrong is not a healthy way of life. In fact, a Good Therpay article claims that excessive self-criticism can have adverse effects on our mental health, including feelings of worthlessness, depression, and body image issues. Imagine starting your year with this kind of weight on your shoulders.
And because resolutions have an enormous probability of failure, by the time February or March rolls around and you’ve resigned yourself to the fact that another year will pass and you still haven’t succeeded with your resolutions, you’re likely to develop negative thoughts that make you feel bad. like a total failure.
Self-criticism is important for cultivating perspective and humility, but it should never be allowed to grow to the point of interfering with your health or progress in life. And if New Year’s resolutions make you self-critical, then you really don’t need them.
no room for mistakes
Another reason you don’t need New Year’s resolutions is that they are often inflexible. People usually put more than one resolution on their list because they want to fix everything, they feel like their current life is wrong all at once. As you can imagine, this can quickly become overwhelming.
Suppose you miss a day of exercise or your reminder to drink water comes at the most inconvenient time. You would have already fallen behind on one resolution, and in trying to get back on track, other resolutions are bypassed.
Before you know it, you’re behind on all your resolutions and feel so overwhelmed by the need to catch up that you just throw in the towel.
When it comes to self-improvement, having a clear structure is very important. Therefore, some aspects of your life will have to be strictly adhered to, for example, your sleep schedule. However, because resolutions leave no room for error or mere chance, they will almost certainly fail. You can definitely do without resolutions for this reason.
you fear them
Have you ever really thought about the resolutions you put on your list each year? How do you feel just thinking about them? Most of the time, resolution lists are full of things people are afraid to do.
No wonder they fail so often and so quickly. No one likes to do things they dread every day for so long. If you’re someone who hates exercise and your resolution says that you have to do an intense HIIT workout five days a week, then the task of working out becomes a burden to cross off your list instead of something that truly fulfills you. .
Sure, there are some things you have to overcome that you don’t particularly enjoy. However, as long as you can avoid it, these things should not be self-imposed. If you fill your days with things you fear, your days will be (obviously) terrible. They will go on seemingly endlessly, and the motivation to abandon all your resolutions will be that much stronger.
And that was the long answer as to why resolutions are unnecessary.
So if you don’t need New Year’s resolutions, what do you need for proper self-improvement?
The answer is simple. Set goals.
A goal is something you hope to achieve, something you enjoy working towards. Even if some of the steps you’ll need to take to achieve it aren’t exactly what you want (like getting up earlier so you can work on your new book), the result is very powerful and aligns with your purpose and essence. beliefs that you will stand firm.
If this article got you thinking about your own goals for the year, schedule a free consultation with me right now at www.tawawn.com and I’ll help you plan your year in a way that gets you excited to get started. immediately.
