New Year’s Resolutions? Not exactly.

By Dr. Samantha Brody, On December 30, 2010

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New Year’s Eve is just two days away. Friends and patients keep asking me about my resolutions. My answer? I don’t do resolutions.

Resolutions, in my mind, set people up for failure. I can’t count the number of times I resolutely made a commitment about a new behavior for the new year. And when I fell short? Just another opportunity to judge myself harshly. Really, who needs that?

And then there is the fact that when I fall off the wagon with whatever my resolution happens to be, my natural response is to just bail entirely.

I went a few years ignoring the whole thing but the truth is that I really quite like the idea of a fresh start.

So, one December, I came up with a plan. Instead of a New Year’s resolution, I would have a New Year’s theme.

If I have a theme for the year I can put intention toward making a change. I can make an effort but there is no failing. One poor choice doesn’t mean it’s a done deal, that I’ve blown it all. It is possible to revisit the theme over the course of the year, working on new and more effective ways of reaching my goal.

Most often I have a few themes I’m considering. Some years I end up with one theme, and others I end up with a handful. There are even times when I carry a theme over to the next year because I haven’t quite gotten to where I wanted to be.

This year I know that I want to get outside more, as being in nature used to be a very important part of my life and it’s taken a back seat since I’ve started a family. More reading (which means less screen time) will make it on the list as well. And there will be something about waking up earlier, ready to greet the day with a smile…well, maybe that will be next year.

Enjoy,

Dr Samantha

Comments:

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