Today is January 17th. Why is this date significant? Today is the day that most New Year’s resolutions fail. Surprised? I was too until I learned why most New Year’s resolutions fail and how to create ones that last. I sat down with Jenny Arrington of the educational and experience-oriented organization Rebel Human. Jenny is also the Wellness Advisor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and trained under Harvard neuroscientist, Dr. Srini Pillay. In other words, she knows her stuff. Discover what she thinks it takes to truly create New Year’s resolutions that last!
Why New Year’s Resolutions Usually Fail
Progress Can Be Painful
True change doesn’t always look pretty. Often times, it is painful, involves tears, and requires independent thinking without the fear of the opinions of others. For many people, when something is painful they tend to think it is wrong and flee. I have learned from Jenny that we need to figure out how to be comfortable with that pain and discomfort. Observe it and allow it to fully exist and run its course. Don’t run from it because it will come out one way or another!
Resolutions Are Phrased As Something Negative to Fix
Think about it- if I tell you NOT to think of a white bear, what image immediately pops into your mind? Probably that exact thing I told you NOT to think about, right? Jenny used this example of how many people focus on what we don’t want and the habits we want to quit. Instead, she suggests that we come from a place of what we want to love and nourish as opposed to behaviors that we look to change. This is one way to create New Year’s resolutions that last instead of ones that create anxiety and fear.
People Jump Into Resolutions Without Much Thought
A NEW YEAR’S resolution is, in theory, one that lasts the entire year. 365 days. That’s a pretty long time. Many people make snap decisions about their resolutions, giving a relatively short amount of time and attention to a major change. The yogic version of a resolution is called “Sankalpa,” or an intention formed by both the heart and mind. We just started talking about this in our class, and are currently gathering intel to make our intentions later this month. Quiet down, listen to what truly speaks to you instead of getting amped up about resolutions and timelines. Also, a resolution doesn’t have to be for the full year. It can be a short-term baby step.
