Year after year we’re bombarded with ideas of drastic changes that individuals would like to make to usher in the upcoming season. We often hear sentiments like “new year, new me”, “I’m leaving so and so far behind me this year,” or “I’m going to start that diet plan I’ve been putting off.”
While self-reflection and setting goals are an essential part of personal growth, it’s imperative that we remain realistic with our shortcomings, set manageable objectives, and realize that change is a series of ebbs and flows and requires resilience as setbacks will arise.
We often pressure ourselves to reach milestones by certain periods of time and that causes undue pressure, which leads to giving up on ourselves and falsely thinking we aren’t capable of accomplishing tasks; frequently it is the methods we’re using that needs readjustment.
Don’t wait to change. Start tackling seemingly large responsibilities by formulating manageable ways to get there. For instance, if your plan is to switch careers, it helps to initially thoroughly research your desired career then perhaps gaining an apprenticeship or internship in that field to gain experience of how it will be to be performing the tasks of that job and the nature of that business.
Start where you are. You don’t have to have the best of everything to make positive change. If you have a pen and paper, you can jot down the steps it will take to get to your destination. If you know someone in the industry you’re vying for, it may help to have coffee or lunch with them and discuss the best ways to break into that field.
Put fear aside. It’s scary to try something that can potentially fail. Yet, it’s necessary to put complacency aside if you’re to reach higher heights. Acknowledge your trepidations but don’t let them stop you.
Don’t let them get to you. Anyone that has made any type of radical change in their life faced some level of opposition. If you let that stop you, you’ll always wonder “if I had done that, where would I be today?” don’t do that to yourself.
Embrace the suck. Things don’t go as planned, most of the time. One minute its cake, then the next moment you’re wondering what went wrong. Regroup however you need to and keep your plans at the forefront of your mind.
Monitor your mindset. Negativity and anxiety are fast ways to kill the dreams living inside of you. Its cliche to say think positively when it may not be that easy for some individuals so get the help you need via talk therapy, prayer, meditation, or leaving behind attitudes and habits that don’t serve you.
Watch your company. Though you are the main person responsible for how you react to outside circumstances, spending time with those who are not in alignment with you will just have you going nowhere fast.
Execute. Don’t overthink it. Just go forth and be great.
See below some thoughts circulating on new year’s resolutions for 2018:
My New Year’s Resolution for 2018 is to try to find a reason to want to deal with 365 days of 2018
— THE MASKED SINGER / DOC FLY (@MaskedViner) December 27, 2017
New Year’s Resolution 2018: to be far less charitable to Brexiters than in previous years.
— Chris Formaggia #FBPE (@ChrisFormaggia) December 28, 2017
my new years resolution for 2017 was to stop self-harming myself. i haven’t cut in over a year and i plan on renewing the resolution for 2018. ?
— Baby Echie (@BabyEchie) December 27, 2017
Year End Resolutions. Last year I only made 3 resolutions:
1) Visit Malta
2) Start learning Hindi/Sanscrit
3) Do not step once into New Jersey
I failed on all 3. I did a lot a lot of things but failed on the resolution.
So no resolutions for 2018.— Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) December 23, 2017
My new year’s resolution is to tell all y’all to stop using triggered as a joke or descriptor for being upset. These originated as a methods to make light of people with trauma, why keep that as part of your personhood?
Just drop that shit 2018 you’ll be a better person for it.
— ASSWOLF (@TheRealAsswolf) December 27, 2017
It’s just about time to ring in 2018. With new year comes new opportunities so we asked Ateneans what they wanted to do in 2018. Starting today until December 31, we’ll post some of their answers. You might even be inspired to write your own New Year’s resolution! pic.twitter.com/Y0q6IJde0g
— Ateneo de Manila (@ateneodemanilau) December 28, 2017
New Year’s Resolution: Ask yourself, Can you not? Like, whenever possible, could you just… not? Let’s just… let’s just not, okay? #2018
— A Cheeseburger Pillow (@CheeseBurgowski) December 28, 2017
2018 New Year Resolution #4:
Stop fighting losing battles. Sometimes you need to lose the small battles to win the big war.
— Richard Juan (@richardjuan) December 28, 2017
What’s your new year resolution for 2018? (Comic by @grantdraws) pic.twitter.com/VPFBp1WxZT
— Freshteam ? (@freshteamHQ) December 28, 2017
New Year’s resolution: continue to highlight romanticised abuse and the dangers thereof. More and more people are waking up to it. Let’s make 2018 the year nobody tolerates it, anymore.
— 50 Shades is abuse (@50shadesabuse) December 28, 2017
the year is 2018, january 3rd to be exact. you set an alarm for 6am to go to the gym because your new year’s resolution was to get in shape. you did not, you hit the snooze button and ended up waking up at 1pm. this goes on for another week before you delete the alarm for good
— mohamoud (@moho35) December 28, 2017
2018 New Year Resolution #3:
Trust my own instincts more. My biggest downfall in the last two years was overthinking things and not going with my guts.
— Richard Juan (@richardjuan) December 28, 2017