So it’s been 21 days. Have you kept your resolution? If so, congratulations! By conventional wisdom you’ve formed a new habit.
Well, maybe. What does it really mean to form a habit? I’ll speak to that crowd soon.
But first I want to speak to the likely bigger crowd. The one that didn’t make it this far. What happened? We were all there when it started. You told everyone, or at least yourself, you were going to do it. The game plan seemed simple enough, at least to the point you imagined being able to follow through on it. The year moved on, but this isn’t a new you?
The thing about New Years is this. It’s only one moment. Maybe more depending on how you count it down. But January 2nd? Just like any other day. So, all that bursting motivation that comes in at the rush of the moment. Where does it go?
Some people last longer than others. Though you should ask yourself, are we going to remember new years sitting down March 2nd? Change doesn’t come from a striking moment. It comes from consistency.
If you use something external to motivate you to change, you’re dependent. And it’s natural that there will be air resistance in your journey. But when you’re change is clear internally, you’ll move with no friction.
Don’t decide what you want to accomplish. Decide why and who you want to become. Don’t make a new year’s resolution. Make a life resolution.
And guess what? You can start now. You don’t need a calendar to push you. You can push yourself. And it’s something we all need to do.
P.S. This is a bit shorter than usual. I want to try something new though. I’ve enjoyed making long articles. It’s a mental exercise to structure concepts in interesting ways. But I’ve become more interested in providing food for thought and action, even if short sometimes. And providing this everyday. Let’s see where it goes. It’s an experiment.
