Growing up, we learned about New Year’s traditions in school, and even then, I found them to be pretty weird.
They weren’t ever something we practiced or indulged in as a family.
So, by the time I was asked to think of resolutions for a school project or essay, I was usually at a loss.
Naturally, that made the assignment hard for me and I ended up just copying whatever my peers wrote down or picking their brains for ideas.
For me, the whole notion of having resolutions set for the whole year in the first week of January seemed shortsighted.
It also sets someone up to fail if situations or circumstances outside of their control impact their life.
New Year’s resolutions don’t really account for the free will of other people in your life.
Even the most chance encounter provides an intersection of lives and can possibly wreak havoc in them, too.
Plus, I never liked the idea of sharing said resolutions with others as if I needed some sort of accountability help.
Not to mention, I think it’s really more of an illusion for someone to have self-growth.
If you truly want to do better or be better, then do it for yourself and not measure up to someone else.
There are plenty of free apps available to help with diet, exercise, and overall wellness – plus dozens of free articles or pages online, too.
But, if you feel the need for personal professional help, then by all means pay for it!
I guess I’ve just never felt the need for external validation about facets of myself.
And I can blame that mindset on my mom since she taught all of her children to be independent and self-sufficient as possible.
My mom also didn’t subscribe to resolutions as a method for learning and growth either!
Now, if it’s a medical reason for a resolution or truly life-or-death, then I’m not one to judge.
Still, I’ve seen more people following trends for bragging rights instead of evaluating their personal needs first and then making an actually informed decision.
I’ve also known people to take resolutions to extreme measures and become addicted to them and the validation they sought through online or in-person interactions.
If something becomes the sole focus in your life that makes you ignore everything and everyone else, then it isn’t healthy – no matter what it is!
By far the advice I’ve always taken to heart is everything in “moderation.”
Take less, do less, and suffer less in order to be the best version of yourself.
But, again, I’m not a professional in any sense of the word, so take that advice with a grain of salt and please pursue professional assistance if you feel inclined.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to seek help when you need it.
Resolutions seem to always start out as throwaway gestures to me and seem to fuel the economy with consumerism in one form or another.
However, true introspection and assessment of one’s life and well-being can lead to healthy lifestyle changes when done for the right reasons.
