
To most people, starting off a new year is like starting a new life. The previous year might have been so tough that they want to leave it all behind to start afresh the New Year. To others, the New Year is just a continuum. It might be hard to believe, but 2021 is just a few hours away, which means you’re probably contemplating how to start the New Year fresh. The majority of people start off the year making New Year’s resolutions which mostly include losing weight, sticking to a healthier diet, exercising regularly, making better financial choices, quitting smoking, and spending more time with family. While all are great adjustments to make, you are likely to only keep these resolutions going for two weeks, or at most two months.
According to Women’s Day, 80% of New Year’s resolutions actually fail by February. Millions of people in the world make New Year’s resolutions each year but only a small fraction of them manage to keep them because they set unrealistic goals and have unrealistic expectations. A goal is unrealistic when the goal is something that requires more energy, skills, talents, and time than you have available in order to achieve it. Another unrealistic goal may be one that is not in alignment with your own greatest gifts and talents. When people launch their resolution on January 1st, they are making a change based on a calendar date, not necessarily when are truly prepared to change their lives. This is another real reason most resolutions fail.Although New Year resolutions have a higher propensity to fail, you better stick with it if it works for you.For the lot who will probably brush off their New Year resolutions in the first two weeks of following through, you may need to consider other ways to start the year fresh and clean.
Instead of making a New Year’s resolution that you will eventually break, start the New Year by committing to small things that can give you an instant feeling of fulfillment and success. Start off the year by doing a yearly review. Take stock of where you’ve been and all of the accomplishments you’ve made in the last year. In a typical yearly review, you should answer these types of questions; What went well for me last year? What didn’t go well for me last year? What accomplishments did I have? How did I improve my life? How did I improve my relationships?What did I remove from my life that is now making me happier? What do I wish I had taken more time for?
Keep track of these questions and your responses in a journal that you can refer back to in the future: your answers year over year will be very enlightening. Ask these types of questions about all the important areas of your life, such as family, relationships, finances, career, home, etc. These questions will help you appreciate all you’ve accomplished in the previous year, and you can use this information to start the New Year off right and set better goals for the next year.Secondly, update your attitude. This means starting the year with an attitude of gratitude and including a positive affirmation in your daily routine.
Like I said in a previous article, gratitude is a heart-centered approach to being at peace with yourself and with all you have. When you practice this feeling of gratitude, it attracts even more things into your life for which to be grateful.Positive affirmations refer to a simple, short sentence that you can use as a reminder throughout your day. Using positive affirmations can boost your self-esteem over time, which is helpful when starting off a new year. To work with positive affirmations, find a phrase that works for you, like “I am worthy,” or “I am capable of challenges.” Tell yourself this first thing in the morning and throughout your day as you start to doubt. Tailor your affirmation to your particular life and circumstance.
The list of positive affirmations for 2021 includes;• My heart and soul are at peace throughout 2021.• My mission for this year is to stay strong and bold.• I am ready to see things differently in 2021.• 2021 is the year of unlimited possibilities for me.• I choose love, respect, and kindness throughout 2021.• I am loved, worthy, I am enough, and I am worthy.• I choose to think positive thoughts in 2021.Also, set realistic goals for the year. Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality.The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You’ll also quickly spot the distractions that can, so easily, lead you astray.Set goals that you are able and willing to work toward. While you should always set goals that will challenge you to be better, it’s important to take a realistic approach. For example, if you don’t have any experience with long-distance running, perhaps it wouldn’t be wise to set a goal to complete a triathlon. That doesn’t mean you won’t complete a triathlon in the future! Try setting a goal to run a 5K first, and then build up to more intense competition.Remember what we need are positive, realistic goals and the willingness to work. Hard work and practical goals! Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.
Wishing every one of you a prosperous and fulfilled 2021.
Thank you for reading our articles all through 2020.