Good-bye New Year’s Resolutions
Claudia Graf
MA, LPC
1/20/2024
The end of January is about that time when many of us start to slack on the high goals we set for ourselves - the high hopes we had and the new heights we were hoping to reach in 2024. Gyms are getting less crowded, and most have already given up on the new radical diet they started on January 1st. The problem with New Year’s resolutions is that they are short-lived because we tend to set unachievably high goals for ourselves. If we cannot stick to our goal, we often give up on the new healthy lifestyle and emotional or spiritual growth we wanted to work on altogether. I might have eaten a slice of pizza and told myself I messed up my entire healthy eating plan, so I could as well eat the entire thing. In psychology, we call this thought process ‘all-or-nothing thinking’. Instead of giving ourselves grace for falling short of our goals and getting back on track, we self-sabotage.
I challenge you today to not overly focus on the grand New Year resolution but to keep growing as a person throughout the year, not just in January – to aim for truly lasting lifestyle changes. We are more likely to be successful if we set SMART goals for ourselves, goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. It is more likely small baby steps that will lead us to the progress we are hoping for, be it by reading your bible more, being more active, eating better, saving money, or regulating your emotions in a healthier manner.
We are all still human, imperfect, and mess up occasionally - and that is ok. We tend to do worse when we beat ourselves up over not reaching our goals. But if we allow ourselves to be human and give ourselves a little grace now and then, we tend to be more successful and more likely to get back on track after a mishap. God has given us the gift of his undeserved forgiveness for all our sins, and his grace is enough to cover our character flaws and rough edges. He is patient with us like a loving parent with their kids - watching them as they grow, make mistakes, and learn from them.
Making God part of this process can significantly add to our lives. He is our creator and knows what is good and healthy for us and how we function best. He loves to provide us with strength, motivation, wisdom, and guidance if we ask for it. Having a friend who keeps us accountable for the goals we are working on can be a great encouragement as well.
My challenge to you today is to break down your grand goals into sustainable SMART goals and give yourself grace as you work on them slowly. Do not give up! You will get there – one day and one good decision at a time.