It’s January 10 – how many people have already abandoned their New Year’s resolutions?
New Year’s resolutions date back to Ancient Rome and customs related to the god Janus, the two-faced god of doorways and beginnings, as people hoped that the new year would mean better times ahead.
There is a lot of pressure surrounding New Year’s resolutions. First, there’s the idea that you have to break a bad habit just because January 1 has come around again on the calendar. There is also a tendency to set unrealistic expectations and expect instant results, so that by January 15, when you haven’t lost 30 pounds, or your closets are still overflowing, you’re ready to give up. To make matters worse, we’re bombarded by media hype about resolutions. On New Year’s Eve, network TV hit most of the big ones: lose weight, quit smoking, shred paper …
I started thinking that maybe the problem with the concept of New Year’s resolutions is that there’s too much focus on stopping the negative or breaking bad habits. What if we resolve to do more of what’s working, to fuel everything that’s good – a “New Year’s Revelation,” if you will. Instead of finding a habit to break, resolve to create something or focus on what you’re passionate about – what inspires you, what brings you joy. If you’re not sure what it is, perhaps resolve to identify that.
Find some solitude – no company, no computer, no smartphone – and take some time to consider what drives you, what makes you feel great in your gut, in your solar plexus. Trying brainstorming. Maybe you’ll steer yourself toward something you haven’t tried but are interested in – a new type of cooking, or dancing, or a new language. Most community colleges offer short session courses that fit a variety of interests designed to help you get your feet wet.
Perhaps you’ll find that what makes you feel great is helping others – volunteering for a favorite cause, sharing your knowledge with peers, or acting as a mentor toward someone are all great ways to give back to your community.
If you already know what your passion is but feel it’s a bit anemic, find a way to create some new spark. Most creative people – writers, musicians, artists – go through a period in which they’re no longer sure what inspires them. Try creating in a different than usual manner. For instance, if you’re a writer or a musician, try your hand at visual art, either painting or drawing, or even making a collage. If you’re a visual artist, try writing some song lyrics or a poem.
The key is to reinvigorate yourself. Resolve to make 2012 your best year ever – not because you finally managed to drop those last 10 pounds, but because you have tapped in to something that makes you feel grounded, connected, alive. Take advantage of the “New Year, New You” movement you are being bombarded with, but refuse to focus on the things you shouldn’t do or can’t seem to quit. Set your sights instead on expanding something rewarding, expressing that unconventional urge, nudging yourself in a new direction.
Because the media and the pundits have it wrong. One doesn’t emerge fully formed as the “New You” on January 1 – that unveiling will most likely surprise you sometime mid-summer. This month is for the looking inside and taking that first step on your journey, that slight change in your course that brings the fun back into the trip. Push your boundaries, express your gratitude, reach a little for that dream – you have a whole year to work on it.
A View From the Room 