Getting it Right With Those New Year's Resolutions
Are we ready for resolutions including the ones we did not fulfill this past year?
*This article is a remaster from last year.*
“There is no better formula than reflecting on past experiences.”
I want to motivate you to accept the reality that we are not perfect and that even if we achieve our resolutions in 2023, there will always be something else we want to improve ourselves.
Alright! Every year's end, we hear from someone or read somewhere about making resolutions for the coming year. The date gives us a starting point, but the subject of this article is to define why many people fail to fulfill their promises or resolutions, as they are called.
I promise to give you a solution for your resolution
Between the celebration of Christmas and New Year’s, we feel that special communion between loved ones, friends, and ourselves a little closer.
Family gatherings bring many conversations about our achievements in the past year.
We like to share our projects and goals, which are always only halfway or not even started. By bragging or simply assuming that we are doing well or having success, we often exaggerate it to fill our ego with the desired triumph—more than anything, just presuming that we are successful.
But inside, we are consumed by conscience when talking about our past year. Something inside us tells us that something is missing. That we should be better.
We recognize something is stopping us from reaching our highest potential.
That's where the end-of-year resolutions come from. We take it as a clean slate.
And this is where my observation comes in.
I learned that drawing a line or proposing a date gives us a starting point. But we need more than that — We need to build momentum.
It is the invisible force behind the locomotive's pushing power.
It is not necessary to step on the accelerator at all times to move a heavy train with all its wagons. Little by little, it builds momentum until it slides on the rails without pressing anymore—the heavy load pushes itself.
Apart from willpower (which is limited), we need more than motivation to get the results we want.
Personal example:
To achieve my most cherished goal, sobriety, I had many falls and scrapes (literally) due to lack of willpower—the force of gravity of the situation where I was made me fall repeatedly—homelessness.
I held back from drinking as if I was holding my breath underwater, but sooner or later, I needed to breathe again.
But something is compelling when we harness the momentum of our effort. The lapse of time in which we stay towards our goal compounds little by little, and the load starts to push itself—like the train.
Every time we refrain from returning to our old ways, it's a positive vote toward our goal, and as time passes, the urgency becomes light, and we build momentum.
When achieving momentum, all you have to do is take the helm toward your goal. Watch out not to sabotage yourself or allow circumstances to sidetrack you—even watching your emotions.
The most stressful moments are the friction that makes us return to the old bad habits. The dose of dopamine we receive is more significant due to the withdrawal time. Like when the waters of a tsunami recede only to return with more force.
Takeaway
The beginning of a new year may be an opportunity to start with a new mindset and goals. But you can’t just trust that. For each endeavor, you need to build momentum.
Build it and prepare it even before you start your goals. A runner prepares and exercises before the race. He familiarizes himself with the terrain to get to know it well and starts the race with his eyes on the finish line.
*HAPPY NEW YEAR*
Grab it by the handle, and don't let go. It is yours to prosper.
PS; don't feel miserable if you fail your resolutions or miss the target—it is human to make mistakes. Get back up and start again, stronger than before, just like the tsunami.
Thanks for reading!