How many New Year’s Resolutions have you broken in your life?
Be honest.
Now ask yourself how many of those broken resolutions were your own creation and how many were resolutions other people made or suggested? In hindsight does it seem that some of those resolutions were doomed from the start? (Spoiler Alert: Dry January)
Or it simply may be because those resolutions were someone else’s resolutions…so it was like wearing someone else’s shoes or their pink hoodie or anything else that looked or sounded good, but they just weren’t a good fit for you.
And how many of your broken resolutions were lacking the key ingredient for success? The key revolves around a sense of urgency or importance or your authorship. The clock is ticking. Think about everyday changes – not resolutions – like:
- I’m going to change when I work out, because I always run into the end of the day and I give in to appetizers instead of laps.
- I’m going to get to know the people who also walk their dogs so that I am not stuck knowing the dogs’ names instead of the humans walking with the dogs.
- I’m going to reach out to that friend who had a health scare during the holidays…instead of waiting for bad news.
- Go back to that solicitation from a nonprofit that you had intended to vet before donating…and vet them today.
- Be an active listener – ask questions – in all your conversations so that all of those people with whom you interact will feel you care.
- Thank the person who shared a tasty treat as a holiday gift this past year…maybe even ask for their recipe if it was homemade.
- Make a list – written or digital – of the follow-up opportunities so they don’t just sit in your brain where they’ve been archived with a million other good intentions.
Throughout the year track your joy by spending a moment at each day’s end to physically commit to paper or screen what gave you joy that day. You can review your “joy list” other days that may not have given you sufficient joy to help buoy you up. At the very least you can feel good about you for having brought joy to so many others.
Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Advisor, Geriatric Care Manager and founder of, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.
