New Year’s Resolutions

Hello 2024! New year, new me! Time to lose ten pounds, stop eating bread, quit smoking, floss daily, start a new workout regime, and get out of debt. Just kidding. Those are all genuine resolutions I have made in the past. My birthday would sneak up on me at the end of November and I would start to evaluate my life and where I was at. I would feel bad about having not made specific changes by that time in my life and resign to making those changes starting in the new year.

My problem was that I believed I could just wake up one day, without a plan, and change attitudes and routines that, up until that point, were very ingrained within me. That is not to say that other people cannot be successful in doing so. I have witnessed it in others. However, after thirty years of being me, I know that is a recipe for driving myself crazy. It had happened year after year. I would wake up, ready to commit to a change. And then life would happen over the next three days, or a week and I would say forget it.

It is wonderful to have goals and want to improve upon yourself for the sake of yourself. If you do intend to make resolutions this year, perhaps start small. Make one resolution. Be realistic. Have a plan on how you intend to make this change, explore what the benefits of this change are for you personally, and have a plan for staying committed when life happens. Most importantly, if you slip up, remember that changes are very hard to make.

As for me, I have been successful in achieving all those past New Year’s resolutions. Except for the no bread one, that one was just silly. However, I did not achieve them based on the new year. Those changes did not happen overnight. In fact, some of them took years to achieve. If I achieved them, it was because I made small changes over time, and I was consistent. I had a plan, and I adjusted that plan along the way as I got closer to my goal. This year, I have zero New Year’s resolutions. Sure, there are things I could improve upon, many things! However, I am at a point where I love and accept myself where I am at. I also acknowledge that I have a full plate outside of trying out Brazilian jiu-jitsu or taking a cake baking class!

If you would like to speak to a professional counselor or psychologist about this and are in the Chicago area, please feel free to contact Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc. at 708-633-8000. We are located at 6819 West 167^th Street in Tinley Park, Illinois 60477.

Hillary R.,

Masters Level Intern, 2023