As 2014 comes closer and closer so does the notion of reinvention. The idea of creating a new person is practically synonymous with New Year’s. However, reinventing ourselves is harder than it seems and it is often difficult to keep the promises that we made ourselves when the year was still young. Don’t go into 2014 with the attitude that you’re going to break your goals; here are some tips to not only write your own resolutions but keep them as well and become a better you.
- Change your perception of what a resolution is
In thinking of resolutions, many people characterize them as inflexible rules that result in failure if they can’t follow them. However, understanding resolutions in a different way can help you stick to your goals. Think of them as fluid instead of rigid and as solutions to what you want to change. This way, if they don’t work out, you understand that you haven’t failed but need to take a new approach to your goal.
- Get rid of shoulds
I should go to Yates more often. I should stop eating the frozen yogurt at Leo’s. All of these things are true (especially for me) but you should reconsider if “should” statements really belong on your resolutions list. Use New Year’s resolutions as a way to achieve the goals that you feel you are ready and prepared to accomplish. Ignore the outside sources telling you what you should to and instead focus on what you are willing to do.
- Take a new approach
While resolutions are often something that you would like to change about yourself, they are also so much more than that. They can help us become the person that we want to be, so create resolutions that will help you achieve this goal. Think of experiences you’d like to have; think of skills you want to develop; think of qualities that you want to obtain. These are the sorts of resolutions that will help you become a better you.
- Be creative
Writing down an endless list of self-improvements makes resolutions more like work than a journey, so include goals that are creative and fun. Including things that sound trivial and are in fact just plain enjoyable will help make achieving your goals a satisfying process, not a painful one.
- Remember that there are multiple New Years
Part of the appeal of creating a list of New Year’s resolution is the idea of a clean slate; a new year when you can be whoever you want. But also remember that a single year can have multiple new years; birthdays, Chinese New Year, and religious holidays are just some examples. New beginnings can also happen whenever you want them to so don’t be afraid to live the life you want to live.
Good luck and have a happy New Year’s!