To resolve or not?

Webster’s defines a resolution as: “the act of determining.”

So many of us start a new year with a New Year’s Resolution, or two. It’s as if we want to underline, capitalize, write in bold, put explanation points behind something that we failed to do in the past year, that we suddenly find so important to fix or change, that we resolve to do it. Starting January 1st we will make change. Resolutions seem to be about fixing something about ourselves that is broken or not good enough. They are negative at their core.

What if we saw the new year; the next 365 days, as a clean slate to write a beautiful story on? What if we looked at 2021 and found something that we learned, or something that we enjoyed, or something that we want to do again and take that into 2022? What if we could see our failures, fears, mistakes, and setbacks as a canvas on which to paint the next year?

What about a New Year’s challenge instead of a resolution? Challenge yourself to try something new instead of resolving to change something. See how much more positive that feels and sounds?

Ideas: try something new each month (recipe, hobby, class, book) OR try something new for the whole year (new skill, learn a language, conquer a fear). OR add something new to your life each month (a book, a massage). OR start smiling first thing in the morning; only saying positive things to others; have tech-free days each week… you get the idea.

If you are heading into 2022 feeling like 2021 was two years long, and wanting to see an end to the “madness”; you are not alone. My hope for you, and for me, is that this next year is a good one. It is full of promise. Those shiny things are not beyond our reach; we just have to go for them. Enjoy something in each day.

Happy New Year!