Admit it.  You are one of those people who have made a few, maybe even many New Years Resolutions in the past, but have come up with really great excuses not to stick to them.  People are constantly trying to make improvements in their daily lives—more power to you, I’m all for it!  But why do we set these goals?  Why don’t we usually stick to them?

But why do we set these goals?

In my honest opinion, I believe people set “goals” or “resolutions” for themselves for some of the wrong reasons.  Think about the most common aspirations: lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier, be nicer to others, stop cursing, the list goes on… And I know you are thinking, “Those are great goals, what’s wrong with them?”  Well, quite frankly, I guess there is nothing actually wrong with them. BUT, I do find a commonality among them all: they all involve pleasing other people.  Don’t get me wrong, helping others is great and I really am fond of people who extend a helping hand, but I strongly believe in first starting with the “Hierarchy of Needs” as popularized by Abraham Maslow. To summarize this in a sentence, the “Hierarchy of Needs” basically says that people must first please themselves to achieve self-happiness in order to be able to truly help others.  I believe that if someone is not entirely happy with themselves, they will never be able to help others to the most of their potential. With that being said… make New Years Resolutions that are positive and helpful to YOURSELF!!! Do it because you want to do it.  Do not do it because it is what you think others might want to see from you. Do something that will help yourself.  It does not matter how big or how little.  For all I know, it could be something strange like eating peanut butter out of the jar with a fork instead of a spoon. But guess what, it doesn’t matter what I think as long as it makes you happy! Maybe it will be meditating, enrolling in yoga, taking art classes, or reading lots of books — whatever it is, do it because it will make your inner-self flutter with joy.

Why don’t we usually stick to them?

Because obviously you’re using the wrong kind of glue!  Oh, right. Scrap booking class ended two hours ago. But really—is it because we, as humans, *gasp* forget them? During our daily routines, do we need to be more readily reminded of what we are to do for the entirety of the next year? For example: You decide you are going to cut out shell fish from your diet (I don’t know, maybe you have a shell fish allergy). You are on the prowl through the lunch line and see a buttery, steaming, plump crab cake sitting there.  You get those googley eyes and think, “wow, this will be so good.”  Out of nowhere, you forget that resolution you set, and you indulge.  Two hours later, you remember you broke your resolution.  Realizing what you have done, you think it impractical to start over so you continue your shellfish eating ways. Okay, so not all of us set resolutions like these, but you get the point.  Once we break it, we’re all like, “eeh, who cares. It doesn’t really matter. It’s just a New Years Resolution.” Newsflash. It does matter! You set this resolution, and you need to stick to it; you are no quitter! In order to prevent this terrible, terrible calamity, do whatever works for you so that you remember it.  Especially in those first few weeks, constantly remind yourself that you have set this goal, and you are going to stick to it! If it takes writing 100 sticky notes and sticking them everywhere in your apartment, then go. for. it. You all have your own little habits.  Just do something so that you are going to remember it and stick to it! 365 days from now, you will be happy you did.

Here, I will leave some enlightening words of wisdom from the great Buddha: There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth… not going all the way, and not starting.  I think anyone who has a long enough attention span to read all the way through this entry, can relate to this sentiment. Set those New Years Resolutions.  Go all the way! If you are going to waste any time at all thinking of them, or trying to achieve them, give it all you have got!  Make the most of your time.  Do it for yourself. The road to a long and happy life is to start with yourself.  Some may see it as a selfish thing, but that is not the case at all!  At first, it might take time away that you might have otherwise spent helping others.  But, in the end, after achieving your inner happiness, you will be spending more time than you could ever imagine helping others achieve their own inner happiness.  It is the circle of life.  Oh dear, I hear the Lion King song already in my head — I do not consider that a bad thing though. With this, I leave you all.  Happy New Year! Feliz Año Nuevo! Bonne Année!