| A 3-Min. Read

Are you a new year’s resolutions person? I’m a dreamer, but I’m terrible at commitment for the sake of commitment. Needless to say, resolutions are not this gal’s thing. Keep reading if you’re anything like me. Because I have a few thoughts on why new year’s resolutions fail + what you can be doing differently to start this year off strong—

Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail

My take on the matter? Resolutions don’t work because they’re based in lack. There’s an undertone of not having or being enough.

When we are striving toward something we don’t have, it can bring up some pretty serious feelings—like self-doubt, unworthiness, comparison + insufficiency, to name a few. How can we reasonably expect to stay motivated or inspired to push toward our resolutions when they’re built on lack from the outset?

The New Trend in New Year’s Resolutions—Without Failure

In the past year or so, there’s been a trend toward settings ‘intentions’ or a ‘word of the year’. Have you heard of this? It’s like the small-scale vision board for anyone desiring a change, without setting themselves up for the disappointment of yet another failed resolution. And I think people are on to something there. But I want to take it a step further.

What if you were to create an intention for your year + grounded it in gratitude for what you already have. How can you focus on making this year more expansive? How can you grow what you already have going for you?

Because as I see it, it’s a lot easier to gain momentum when you work off of what you already have.

Try Leaning Into Gratitude

So your homework this week is to dwell less on why your resolution failed. Instead, take 3-5 minutes every day this week + practice gratitude. List out everything you’re grateful for.

And not only do I want you to notice how this practice makes you feel everyday, but take note of what comes up for you as well. What do you feel especially appreciative of that you’d like to have more of in your life? Use that as your guidance as we head into this new year + see how approaching life from what you do have helps you broaden your horizons in the most encouraging, supportive way possible.

Does It Matter Why Your New Year’s Resolution Failed?

Truthfully? No. It probably doesn’t matter the cause of your failed resolutions. Look, it wouldn’t hurt to reflect on whether your resolution was possibly rooted in lack. But I think the biggest takeaway is to spend some time putting new-found focus on your appreciation for what you have + how you can expand on it.

Give it a try over the next week. Be sure to comment below or send me a message to share how it feels. I think that once you get in the habit of gratitude, you’ll find that it’s easy to keep the momentum going. You’ll achieve the outcomes more quickly than you could’ve ever imagined (while leaving behind all the guilt, lack and self-doubt). Now *that’s* a great way to kick off the new year!

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