To be honest, I’m not a fan. I’ve never really cared for the idea that there’s so much pressure around a new year, as though this is your chance to finally get something right. Maybe its a vow to eat better, lose weight, take some classes you’ve been putting off… whatever the resolution is, it signifies that there’s something about your life that you’re not happy with. Something that you want to change, to improve, or perhaps to remove. Don’t get me wrong, I’m fine with striving for better health, improved lifestyles and quality of life, and overall general well being. So the general idea of improving your life is fine with me; it’s the idea that you need to make a resolution to make those changes that bothers me.
I have always felt like a resolution is simply setting yourself up for failure, especially when its such an extreme change of lifestyle that you’re pursuing, which most often is the case. Lose weight, give up carbs, stop drinking, stop smoking. These are all major lifestyle changes that require more than just a date to come around for you to be able to make it on your own.
Today on Facebook I saw a post by Jillian Michaels who writes:
So they say the first 12 days of your new year determine how the rest of your year will play out… so, on that note how has it been going so far?
In other words, if you are like the many Americans that are trying to make a change this January 1, according to Jillian Michaels, you have 12 days to commit to your resolution or you’re likely to fail. Have you spent the first 3 days following your resolved new plan? Or did you find it a lot harder to commit to than you imagined? I’m here to tell you that you can absolutely accomplish anything you put your mind to, but it might be a task that requires help, support from peers and/or a trained professional to get there.
So my comment to you is don’t worry that if you don’t succeed from Jan 1-12, then you wont succeed this year. You can absolutely make the change you wish to make; I just encourage you to research your resolution. Find support groups (online or in person), read blogs and other message boards of people fighting the same fight as you, and embrace any help you can find to stay on target. Making a lifestyle change is sometimes better when approached in baby steps, though others prefer the “rip the bandaid off” approach and dive right in. Whatever you find to be the best method for you is not important; what is, is that you recognize there is something about you that you wish to improve, and you’re setting your sights on that change. Congratulations for taking the first step, and I wish you all the best on your journey!
In good health and happiness, cheers to 2012!
