Why I Don’t Believe In New Years "Resolutions"

It’s that time of year when we look ahead with bright eyes, and a renewed sense of vigor and promise for something better in our future.  A chance to wipe the slate clean and start a fresh in the hope we can shake the things that have plagued us from our past and move forward to that place “where things will be different this year”. But are setting ‘new years resolutions’ necessarily the best way to achieve the changes we want to see in the year ahead?  For me, NYR’s tend to set up some kind of subconscious message for failure…. Aim too high and you may fall  short of the target leaving a sense of disappointment, aim too low and, well, where’s the joy and exhilaration in that?   I’ve noticed a plethora of  well intended messages in my inbox and across social media pages for the new year ahead… quotes such as “Make 2015 your best year yet!!” and “Be the best YOU can be everyday”, but to me these kind of messages set up unrealistic expectations, unless you can get clear and realistic about WHAT it is you actually want to do differently this year and HOW you might bring about the change you desire in your life.

I prefer instead to make a firm intention to do things differently than I’ve done in the past, especially those elements of my life that may not have gone to plan, or to let something go that no longer serves me in a positive way.

I begin by taking some time at the start of the year when all the holiday festivities have settled and reflect on the year that’s been.  I think about the parts I liked, the parts not so much and what I want to be different in the year ahead.  But although it’s important not to live life in the past,  we may need to reflect upon it from time to time, in order to bring about change in our future.  By understanding how you arrived at the present point in your life, you will be more likely to experience change moving forward and achieve the transformation you desire.

I like to use the previous year as a bit of  a ‘How to guide’ for getting what you want by doing things differently.  This way I’m more likely to avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over compared to…. if I just bumble along aimlessly with my head in the sand, reaping the same results and scratching my head in wonder as to why.   In reality this would be the definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result each time.

My main intention for the year ahead, is to try to act less from a place of fear and more from a place of love,  after all, fear attracts fear and love attracts love –  in all shapes and sizes.  We often hesitate to make the changes we desire in ourselves and our life out of fear – fear of failure, or fear of the unknown.  Instead we make up all sorts of excuses as to why we shouldn’t do something, vs why we should, but if you are able to shift your thinking from a place of fear to a place of love, you’ll be more likely to set about a positive change that will then permeate the areas of your life you’ve been struggling with – whether its your health, your career, relationships or whatever.  As you practice this more and more, you will begin to develop a new awareness and a more positive attitude, and healthier habits will follow.

Happy New year everyone, may 2015 be the year of doing things differently.

© All Rights Reserved Sally Joseph 2015

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