The beginning of a new year is accompanied by lots of resolutions. Every year, many fill the pages of new notebooks with unending must-dos. Our resolution notes brim with audacious promises we whispered to ourselves. As January fizzles out, our initial fervor thaws into a puddle of self-doubt, forcing us to haul lackluster scoffs at our passionately scribbled resolutions. Fellow resolution warrior, you’re not alone in this January blues tango.
Let’s face it, most resolutions are like Dubai’s New Year’s Eve fireworks – explosive, dazzling, but fleeting. We shoot for the moon in resolution notes and forget – nay, neglect – to build a rocket sturdy enough to reach it. Our goals, grand as cathedrals, often stand on foundations wobbly as jelly. We cram a year’s worth of aspirations into vague resolutions with no clear-cut plans on how to bring them to fruition. No surprise then, that by mid-January, the enthusiasm starts to resemble a deflated birthday balloon.
Now when you steal a glance at your resolutions notebook or list, self-doubt kicks in, and suddenly, the treadmill you vowed to visit daily now looks more like an instrument of stress than a path to world domination as you had earlier conceived at the start of the year.
Before you declare this year’s resolutions D.O.A., let’s hit the rewind button. Ditch the ditching! This January, instead of burying your goals in the heap of failed attempts, let’s revive them by embracing the “three Rs”: Re-scrutinize, Re-define, Re-vitalize.
Re-scrutinize: Please take a good, deep, and hard look at those resolutions again. Do they align with your core values? Do they spark a fire in your soul, or are they simply echoes of societal expectations? A resolution is only as achievable as the level of zeal it triggers. If your read-50-books-this-year resolution is not accompanied by a zeal to burn the midnight oil for some books, then it is as good as non-existent. So re-scrutinize those resolutions and shed some resolution weights so you can carry others more conveniently.
Re-define: Ditch the sky-high dreams with wobbly foundations. Instead, craft SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Don’t just say “Get fit,” as James Clear advised in his book, Atomic Habits, break it down into bite-sized chunks like “run three times a week” or “master ten yoga poses by March.” Breaking it down gives the resolution specificity and makes it achievable. And while you are at it, celebrate small wins – that extra kilometer conquered, that extra yoga pose mastered. Remember, progress, not perfection, is the name of the game.
Re-vitalize: You wouldn’t climb Mount Everest in flip-flops, so why embark on your resolution journey alone? Find your support system, your cheerleaders, and your fellow adventurers. Share your goals, celebrate each other’s victories, and pick each other up when the January blues come knocking. And don’t forget to refuel your motivation. Read inspiring stories, listen to empowering podcasts, and surround yourself with positivity. Remember, the fire within needs tending, so stoke it with the fuel of inspiration!
Indeed, January has already bitten into the year, but that doesn’t mean your resolutions are toast. So grab your notebook, dust off those goals, and rewrite your story. Let January be the month you ditch the ditching and embrace the re-scrutinizing, re-defining, and re-vitalizing. This year, let your resolutions be more than just words on a page – let them be the rocket fuel that propels you towards a brighter, bolder, and blissful you.
It’s right here, right now, waiting to be unleashed. So go forth, fellow resolution warriors, and conquer those dreams, one SMART goal at a time!
Yetunde is smart, kind, and has a lovable personality. A constant learner with an impressive work ethic and terrific creative skills. She is devoted to personal and spiritual growth and she cherishes the company of people, books, and nature.
