Photo by husin.sani
Another new year is about to dawn. As usual, most of us would make one or more New Year’s resolutions, most of which, again as usual, will not be kept in the long run. Knowing the fact that most people fail to live up to resolutions made at this time of year, the alternative, though, should not be to avoid making any of them at all. It is a time of renewal that we could use to make positive changes in our lives if only we tried the right way.
One thing we have to remember is that a year is a man-made unit of measurement of time and we merely use the beginning or end of a year as a reference point because it is a convenient way of keeping track of our activities. Therefore even if we didn’t manage to keep a resolution we make, it is hardly a sin; nor is it a mark of permanent failure since we can always try again next year, probably with a changed approach.
Anyway, this is not to say that we should aim to let our promises to ourselves fall flat without much effort on our part. There are ways to make New Year’s resolutions that last, which are not too difficult to follow: First among them perhaps is going for realistic goals that inspire you, and treat them as positive challenges rather than boring chores. Being too ambitious and hoping for sudden big changes or picking things that don’t necessarily appeal to you is a sure way to fail. Getting other’s help in keeping on track and also forgiving ourselves the occational lapse are important aspects not to be forgotten.
Choosing the right resolutions is therefore key to being able to adhere to them. There are small changes any of us can make in our day-to-day lives which, practised on a long-term basis, can pay significant dividends. Enjoying the present more is perhaps one of the most relevant aspiration for lots of us living in the high-pressure world today, as we often tend to re-live the past or worry about the future instead of savouring the moment; enjoying the journey rather than concentrating totally on the destination would be helpful even in the successful pursuit of other goals we set. Learning to listen better and have good coversations, cultivating more healthy eating habits, exercising more effectively and being more mindful of our expenses are also some of the worthwhile changes, among many others, we can choose from.
Tags: inspire, keep, New Year, realistic, resolution
