Make a resoultion; No More New Year's resolutions

by Gray Graham

​Way back in July I remember seeing a lot of posts across social media that went something like this; Next year, I am going to make more money, be more happy, remove negative people from my life, travel across the world, and drink more water. Now I don’t know if you know this or not but July is the seventh month of the year. That means that there were still five more months left in the year so maybe, I don’t know maybe a person could start working towards their goals sometime within that five months.

We are now fully into the season of New Year’s resolutions. All the motivational speakers, affirmations makers, goal authors, life coaches, bloggers, vloggers, and [cough] inspirational greats; have been telling you that this is the year that you are going to make big, major changes in your life. Everything is about to be wonderful and fantastic. All your problems are about to go away.  Your life is about to be perfect. 

Now it doesn’t matter that your life has not changed much in the 10+ previous years because this year is going to be different. If you follow my 10 step plan, purchase my new book, buy this new gadget; your life will be completely different, you basically will be out of the money you spent buying their wares.

I am not here to tell you that wanting to make changes in your life is not important. Many people need to make some major changes in their lives [child I could tell you some things on this]. Just because you need to make changes doesn’t mean that you will. Your goal boards, motivational white boards, daily affirmations, and life planners aren’t worth anything if you don’t put any will into achieving these goals.

Most people’s New Year’s resolutions are basically wishes thrown out to the universe because little to no effort will go into achieving any of them. On top of that many of them are basic, empty, selfish prayers. People want things but they don’t actually want to work for them. They lack resolve to accomplish the things they need and they desire the wrong things. This is why most people never achieve any of their New Year’s resolutions.

Everyone, at any moment can start working toward any goal they wish. Everyone, at any moment can decide what things they can possibly achieve in life and what things are a little far-fetched. They can then decide what course of action they will take to work towards those goals.

Now here is the hard part about all of this, we will fail to accomplish many if not most of the things we desire. Some of us will, but most of us will not. That is the thing that all these resolution experts won’t tell you. I mean who wants to hear that they most likely won’t achieve their lifelong dreams. (I want you to take note of all the times people tell you don’t let anyone tell you that you can not accomplish your dreams). Who is going to spend money on something that isn’t going to change their lives?

This year instead of making a bunch of New Year’s resolutions that you are not going to work to accomplish, let’s try this instead. 

First sit down and have an honest conversation with yourself. Examine your life and think about the things you would like to change. 
Second think about the things you want to change and why you want to change them. Are they things that are good for you or are they bad for you? Are they things that are selfish and self-centered or are they things that will improve your life, bring you peace, and bring you closer to God. 

Third think about the things that you have decided you want to change. Now think about how you got into the situation in the first place. Are there things you could have done to prevent these things from happening? Are there things you can do to prevent these or similar things from occurring again in the future. 

Next start making plans to get the things that you have stated you wanted. Be honest with yourself. Don’t say you can do something when you know you probably can’t. Don’t be saying you are going to get 8 books when you know you will be lucky if you can get 4.

Lastly, get to work.

You don’t have to make a big declaration about what resolutions you are going to take this year or any other year. Most people don’t care. Not even the ones that like you. They know you and they know your history. They know what you are capable of doing and what you are not. 

What’s that you say? The people you hang around don’t know you and ain’t no good. My sister, I think you may need to add some new goals to your life. After all sis, we all need to drink more water.