Reframing Resolutions for a Successful New Year
As the new year begins, it’s common to dream big for the year ahead and reflect on what you didn’t accomplish over the past 12 months. However, you may find yourself hesitant to make resolutions again, fearing the discouragement of not meeting them as you did last year. While this time of year can be exciting, offering opportunities for new challenges, it can also bring feelings of frustration as you remember goals that were left unmet. Instead of letting discouragement hold you back, it’s time to reframe how you set and pursue your goals. The Bible provides wisdom on how to plan and persevere, reminding us in Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” With God’s guidance, we can align our goals with purpose and faith, making them more achievable and fulfilling.
Here are three common pitfalls to New Year’s resolutions and how to overcome them:
1. Wishful Thinking – Avoid vague goals that are based on phrases like “more” or “less,” such as “exercise more,” “save more,” or “spend less.” While these intentions are good, they lack the clarity needed for success. Habakkuk 2:2 says, “And the Lord answered me: ‘Write the vision; make it plan on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” To avoid wishful thinking, make your goals specific and measurable. For example, instead of “exercise more,” say, “I will exercise for 20 minutes a day.” Instead of “save more,” set a goal to “save $200 a month.” Adding clear quantitative values to your goals gives them structure and purpose.
2. Life-Changing Goals – We’ve all been there: trying to tackle an overwhelming goal, like going to the moon without the necessary preparation. Often, we set ourselves up for failure by aiming too high or trying to be someone we’re not. Whether it's adding 12 steps to your morning routine or trying to master a new skill in a week, big changes can feel impossible. In Luke 14:28, Jesus says, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” This teaches us to set realistic expectations and take a step-by-step approach. Instead of making drastic changes, start with small, manageable goals. Progress takes time, and it’s through consistent, achievable steps that lasting change occurs.
3. Too Many Goals – Trying to focus on too many goals at once is a surefire way to feel overwhelmed and distracted. Ecclesiastes 4:6 reminds us, “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” Instead of spreading yourself too thin, prioritize just a couple of goals and give them your full attention. As you achieve them, you can build on your success by adding more. Consider habit stacking, where you pair a new habit with an existing one to create lasting change. This approach will help you stay focused and motivated.
As you enter the new year, take time to pray and seek God’s guidance in your goal-setting. By aligning your goals with both clarity and faith, you can set yourself up for success, avoiding common pitfalls and moving forward with purpose and confidence.
Bible Verses to Reflect On:
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” - James 4:13-15
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” - Proverbs 3:5-6
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving -Colossians 3:23-24