Are New Year's Resolutions Really the Best Way to Succeed in 2021?

New Years Day is literally just around the corner. This is the time that so many prepare to engage in a 4000 year old tradition that has become rather counterproductive in modern times. 

In ancient Mesopotamia the spring festival of Akitu, or Akitum, was a 12 day celebration reaffirming loyalty to the king, or crowning a new one. Prayers and offerings were given to the god of Marduk, and everyone, rich or poor, was part of the celebration. Citizens would plant crops, make promises to the gods to repay their debts, and return any borrowed items. 

In 46 B.C. Julius Caesar changed the calendar to align the beginning of the year with January 1st. Ancient traditions continued with the honoring of Janus, a two-faced god with one face looking back at the previous year and the other with an eye to the future. Sacrifices were offered to Janus and again, citizens would make promises of good behavior in the year ahead. 

The modern concept of a “resolution” for the new year didn’t take shape until the late 17th century thanks to Scottish writer Anne Halkett who wrote about it in a diary entry when making promises to herself for the coming year. In 1802 the tradition of making resolutions at the beginning of a new year had become commonplace, however the first recorded use of the phrase didn’t happen until 1813 when “New Year Resolution” was printed in a Boston newspaper. 

The making of a resolution for the new year is a tradition thousands of years old, however is it really proving to be a meaningful exercise? Is there a real benefit to it, or are we setting ourselves up for disappointment? The truth might surprise you. 

Research shows that 80% of resolutions fail primarily for 3 reasons:

1. Psychology. The psychology behind the word “resolution” puts a great deal of stress on us. It gets positioned as something we have to do as opposed to a challenge we can get excited about. It also doesn’t give us the flexibility and permission for moments of failure.  

2. Unrealistic Expectations. We put a tremendous amount of pressure on ourselves to succeed at something, and in many cases, it’s something that we have never tried before or been successful at. 

3. Lack of Planning and Accountability. Like any goal we set for ourselves, it’s not that we plan to fail - we fail to plan. The resolutions most people make are loose ideologies that are focused on the end goal, completely ignoring the steps required to get there. Likewise, working towards a goal is best accomplished when shared with someone who can help keep you accountable. 

If I may offer a suggestion, instead of having a “resolution” for the new year choose a word that best describes yourself, where you want to go, or something that you need to move yourself to the next level. Marla Tabaka is a small business advisor and speaker on combining strategic and creative thinking for optimum success and happiness. She wrote an article on how to determine your Word of the Year, an excerpt of which is below. 

How to Determine Your Word of the Year

Determine your realistic goals. Think about the things you'd like to achieve this year. Be realistic and be kind to yourself--don't tempt failure by burdening yourself with unrealistic expectations upon yourself. Identify what will inspire and support you.

Now think about who you need to be to feel inspired and develop the character to achieve these things. What mindset will help you to move forward? For me, clarity meant that I needed to let go of the worry, still my mind, and trust that the answers were right in front of me and would surface at the right time. In 2016 Melinda Gates chose the word, gentle. It functioned as a reminder to go easy on herself, to fight the pull of perfectionism, and to encourage others around her to do the same.

What one word encapsulates what you want and who and how you need to be to get it? What is one word that describes the mindset that best supports your overall goals? What word might inspire you to be your best self? Because, when you are your best self you will achieve your goals. 

Here's what to do once you select your word of the year:

Get creative.

This year I am creating a piece of art to hang in my office, one that visually captures my word of the year. What creative means can you use to keep your word top-of-mind throughout the year? 

Write about it.

Define what your word means to you. One simple word can capture limitless inspiration and many meaningful feelings. Your definition will go far beyond what the dictionary has to say about it.

Use your word as a mantra. 

Whether or not you create an affirmation, prayer, statement, or whatever works for you, use your single word as a mantra throughout each day. See it in your mind's eye by creating a mental image that captures its meaning. 

Share it if you like.

Sharing your word could serve a purpose. For some, the act of putting it out there on social media, #wordoftheyear, is like a proclamation of intended success. Sharing your word with your partner or best friends may give them an opportunity to support you in some way. 

Let go of the resolution mentality.

The word of the year process is meant to be a gentle one, but don't confuse gentle with weak. In my personal experience, as well as many of my clients and social connections, this is a powerful practice. It's far more effective to gently focus on a word like "health" than to command yourself to get to the gym. As you inspire yourself toward good health, it's likely that you will find a way to achieve it. Make sure that your word feels good to you, not pushy and demanding.

 

From all of us here at SellAssist, we wish you the best in 2021. And remember to push yourself, because no one else will.