New Year Resolutions As Cultural Façade
In all honesty, new year resolutions are ritual facades we put up with; most of which are not genuine but ’flowing with the tide”, ritually. It wouldn’t be mistaken to say that, in most cases, resolutions are just culture or rituals we feel obliged to doing. If change really needs to be made- it shouldn’t be dependent on some time on the calendar. The ingenuity and ritual that comes with resolutions wouldn’t make the intended outcome live through to reality. Real change starts the moment an individual sincerely resolves to changing the way they live or their perception to a situation, through their daily routine. The saying goes “you find your teacher the moment you’re open to learning”. In essence, the willingness to change certain situations about you can be anytime of the year you become genuinely resolved to changing a situation. It doesn’t matter the time of the year this resolve is made! Mostly, the enthusiasm and effort that went into drafting the resolutions slowly but eventually wanes as the year matures because most of these resolutions were either borne out of fantasies, are not genuine or do not have solid action plan to see them through to reality.
Of course, there are other reasons your already drafted resolutions for the year might not scale. So, sit back and let’s go through all together!
First Reason: Absence of a thorough plan & understanding behind the Why
Asides the cultural outlook on why new year resolutions are birthed; there’s the shallow commitment and little or no plan that hinders these set goals from being actualized. We all want a better life for ourselves-sure! It’s ok to hold beautiful imaginations of the kind of life that we want for ourselves. However, it is important to be mindful that our new year resolutions aren’t fantasies. Carefulness needs to be implied to ensure that these goals or resolutions are genuine and well-thought with thorough plans on how they’d be actualized. Everyone wants a good life but not everyone understands or is willing to pay the price for that dreamed life or exhibits deep knowledge of what those dreams require of us to come into fruition. Without the strategies which spells the map on how to get there; all the resolutions are fantasies (Good to have, but can never be gotten). Your resolutions, like goals, should be reduced into strategies and (monthly, weekly, daily) plans.
It is also important to note that while strategies are important in actualizing your goals, you need an understanding of the why if you must stay motivated through out the year, and in the face of difficulties. Knowing and holding onto your why like it’s your name- makes the challenges along the way endurable. There’d surely be a prize if you can endure the heat of the price!
These nuggets aren’t tied to your new year resolution. They’re meant for use whenever you resolve or are genuine about making that change- irrespective of the time of the year.
Second Reason: Lack of Support Systems
A second Reason for failed resolutions or goals are absence of accountable structures to help sustain intended changes. Big changes and success don’t just happen; they require sustained action and systems to keep one in track (asides the why). While some people can hold themselves accountable on their own, others require having a system check to ensure they’re still on track (for days when the journey gets tough). No doubt having a group of friends who can help you remain committed to your goal when the initial juice and excitement fades (and the going gets tough).
Maintaining a close circle of friends or an accountability partner who serves as a buddy before the dream is “hatched” would help you stay in track. There will surely be times when you must have forgotten about the why (reason you set that goal) or doubt your ability to keep moving– having an accountability partner will help you. The saying goes ‘If you want to go fast in life- walk alone, but if you want to go far in life- walk with a companion’.
So, whether an accountability partner or a small circle of friends will surely be needed along the way. Attending Webinars, listening to Podcasts will also be useful!
Third Reason: Too many goals
The third reason most resolutions go unrealized are due to the number of goals set at a go.
It is actually more effective to focus on 1-2 goals at a time. Where it might be appealing to try and accomplish more all at once or concurrently, the results are mostly bleak. In the end, we must have stretched ourselves so thin that we didn’t pay due attention to fully actualizing either of these goals- as we should. Consequently, we exhaust our resources and, ultimately, fail. It is better to focus on one or two goals and do that effectively well, before bringing in another goal. Ideally, after realizing one goal, we should then bring in the other. This allows for growth and cogent achievement.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, growth is constant and should be adopted throughout the year; our growth shouldn’t be evaluated solely at the inception of the year- if we want a guaranteed success story. Similarly, our goals shouldn’t be dictated once in every 365 days. It should be continuous. In essence, don’t wait for the first day of the year before you evaluate your growth. Always develop your goals and build support systems to help you realize the set goals. Don’t forget to also reduce your main goals into smaller measurable bits (this would allow your main goal to be synchronized with your daily routine/activities) to enable your track your progress and determine if you’re still on track. Make your goals specific- tied to a daily, weekly or monthly target; and lastly focus on one goal at a time.
New Year Resolutions aren’t that important until we make them so!
These nuggets aren’t tied to your new year resolution. They’re meant for use whenever you resolve or are genuine about making that change- irrespective of the time of the year.