Are resolutions a waste of time or a worthy endeavor?
Paul White's nationally distributed syndicated column, “Are resolutions a waste of time or a worthy endeavor?” is published in 22 publications across seven states. This includes the following newspapers and digital publications: Midland Daily News (MI), SFGate (CA), Seattle PI (WA), Connecticut Post (CT), Laredo Morning Times (TX), Huron Daily Tribune (MI), The Telegraph (IL), and more. In this week's column, Paul offers a simple, four-simple-rule strategy for success in tackling your resolutions.
Really….I’m not making this stuff up. It was the Romans who named the first month of the year "January." They named it January to honor the two-faced deity Janus, the God of Change and Beginnings. Janus was depicted on Roman coins as symbolically looking back at the old and ahead to the new.
This depiction is what led to the concept of transition from one year to the next, and the date of January 1 set the stage for the upcoming 12 months. It was common for an individual at that time to promise Janus that they would sincerely attempt to be a better person in the year ahead than they were the previous year.
Ancient Babylonians pledged each new year to pay all debts and to return items they had borrowed the previous year. The Egyptian new year was tied to the flooding of the Nile River. When the river flooded the nearby land that had been used for farming, fresh nutrients were deposited by the floodwaters. It was seen as a time of rebirth, or rejuvenation if you prefer, for the land that provided sustenance. At the time, the Egyptians utilized this occasion as an opportunity to celebrate in a way similar to our current New Year’s Eve celebrations.
There are many more examples, but as I continued to research, I found a pattern. All cultures picked a specific date, or time of year, to reflect on the past and consider the future. This process has been utilized by countries, communities, organizations, businesses, families and individuals for thousands of years.
What also became evident was that only a small percentage of groups or individuals figures out how to utilize the process of looking back and visioning forward to make useful and lasting change that propels them towards success. Why? Mostly because we judge ourselves by our intentions rather than by our actions.
We all seem to have the ability to become “intention experts” right before the new year is set to roll around. We prepare ourselves to be able to immediately respond to the question, “Do you have any resolutions for the upcoming year?” with a confident answer of “I sure do!” If someone pursues our well-thought-out response with “What are they?” we’re prepared with two or three of the gold standards: lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking, eat healthier, or organize (something) better.
Then, we immediately turn the tables by asking, “How about you?” so the other person never has an opportunity to actually hold us accountable to our response by asking us, “How do you intend to accomplish that?” or “What’s your plan for success?” which would place us in a compromising position that we’re not prepared for.
It’s akin to seeing someone and saying, “Hi, how are you?” without any expectation that someone would actually start telling us how they really are. What we’re hoping for is a reciprocal response of “Fine. How are you?” which allows both of us to move on without any accountability being issued by either party. It’s insincere at best.
Setting ourselves up for failure at any time in our life can have a disastrous effect on our mental, physical and social health and our foundational belief in our own personal character. Setting resolutions that we never intend to keep can be harmful and should never be done. If we don’t intend to properly utilize resolutions as a life tool for success, we ought never to consider their use. We’d be further ahead if we were just completely honest with people, telling them “Resolutions just don’t work for me.” Take note: Resolutions are not a requirement for joy and happiness. Resolutions are simply a life tool that we can pull out of our toolbox whenever we deem it appropriate.
Could creating resolutions ever be a worthy endeavor? Yes, absolutely! Check out the definitions of the word ‘RESOLVE’ – make up one’s mind; decide with effort of will; make clear. Resolution used as a noun means “fixed purpose.” Think about the power within those words. It was resolution that allowed a person to walk on the moon, to create the light bulb, to invent a way to harness the sun's energy, to hybridize high-yield and disease-resistant corn and wheat for arid climates, saving more than 2 billion lives from famine (thanks, Norman Borlaug).
It was also resolution that allowed Jane and John Doe’s all over the world to lose 20 pounds, run a marathon, get an advanced degree, build a company from nothing, follow a dream, learn to swim and ice skate, put together a “some assembly required” Christmas present, start and maintain a workout routine, and cook a perfect turkey. If someone is truly resolved about something, they are 100% committed to following through until they cross the finish line of success. Isn’t that awesome?!
If you’re considering whether resolutions may have a place in your life, for any resolution to work, you must follow a set of rules. First, resolutions have to be written down. You can talk until you’re blue in the face, but if they aren’t written, they mean nothing. Second, you must write down the “Why” behind the resolution. How will it benefit your life if you stick to it? This allows you to create a “mental picture” of yourself reaching the goal of completing or achieving the resolution. At any point in time, you can pull that vision of success up for ongoing inspiration.
Third, you must create a specific timeline for completion of the resolution along with a defined process for measuring your progress. Fourth, you must have an emotional rescue plan in place any time frustration, self-doubt or fatigue enter that powerful brain of yours…and they will. Escorting them to the exit door of your mind will bring you back to the path of certainty that you are resolute in your desire to cross the finish line.
That’s it. Four simple rules for success with resolutions. Do they seem too hard for you to try? If so, then you’ve failed before you’ve even begun, and resolutions are a life tool you’re just unwilling to use right now. It doesn’t have to be that way forever, but a half-hearted attempt is just a waste of time.
Fact is, every person on this earth has the ability to choose the role that resolutions can play in their life. And it doesn’t have to coincide with a date on the calendar. Any day you wake up is a potential start date for a resolution. There isn’t any resolution you can’t keep if you play by the rules.
And hey…I believe in you! So, GiddyUp!
In addition to being a nationally syndicated columnist, Paul White is an author, motivational and inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, podcaster, and life coach located in Midland, Michigan. He offers self-help and culture development to start your journey towards consistent growth and joy. If you’re interested in getting in touch with Paul, please submit an inquiry via our Contact Page.