Being that we are our biggest critic, it's only natural that we are hard on ourselves. It just seems strange that we make a new year the catalyst for our changes for the better. We should always be adamant when it comes to improving ourselves; that shows amazing growth potential. Potential is a word that gets lost in translation many times. Potential doesn't mean that you have the ability to do something, but it means that you may be able to do it if you try your hardest. Many people, while creating New Year's resolutions, feel so excited that they have decided to make a change. The only problem is that we all have the "potential" to make these changes, but potential has to be added to effort put into the work.
Let's say for example that you have always wanted to be more adventurous. For 2014 you have decided to buy some skis and some ski gear. Now let's say, to jump start things, you purchase a plane ticket to travel to the Swiss Alps. Okay, now let's say December 2014 is here, and you never went to the Swiss Alps to ski because all the while you had a fear of heights. Weird scenario? Of course! It's weird because instead of having a New Year's resolution to be more adventurous, it might have been better to have a resolution to get help with conquering your fear of heights. So you see, potential is not enough to keep a New Year's resolution at all. Wanting to do something and actually doing it are not of the same magnitude. Resolutions for the New Year are sometimes stressful to keep. Why is that? Sometimes we don't really want to change and like the way we are. Sometimes it's lack of motivation that keeps us from achieving our goals. So maybe that's the problem: resolutions instead of goals. Are we looking at the resolutions as achievable goals or as something we have the potential to do?
When we make resolutions for the New Year, we are thinking that these are achievable goals. What we fail to realize is that we need willpower to do these resolutions that we make every year. Willpower drives us to reach our goals and carries us to motivate ourselves when we face adversity. It's sometimes difficult to stay motivated, but think of the end results. You'll be the better person that you wanted to be. Can you imagine what having willpower and motivation can do for your goals? You'll achieve your resolutions so much easier.Another problem is that we gave these resolutions a permanent starting point. We actually wish to start these resolutions in the beginning of the New Year. Why wait? Why not start a new resolution for the month? Why not start changing something when you already have it on your mind? One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to stop smoking. We all know the detrimental circumstances that cigarettes have on our bodies. So...that's not enough to stop smoking for you? I know bad habits are hard to break, but why wait until the New Year? Work on quitting the best way you know how, possibly talking to a physician. There's no need to put off something that can be done today, especially when your health is concerned.
Remember that potential is great. It's just better to include motivation and willpower to complete the formula for achieving what you really want. Making New Year's resolutions is also great, but just make sure that they are realistic to you. If your health is in jeopardy now, please don't wait for a new year to start making changes. If you have fears of some sought, conquer the fear first, and then have that amazing adventure. Goals are much easier to achieve when we can put things in perspective. So if it makes you happy to make New Year's resolutions, go for it! Just be honest with yourself and be realistic about it.
