Don't Make a New Years Resolution!

Why not?  Because it isn't meaningful.  Don't get me wrong, I like goals, but goals are different from New Years Resolutions.  

I make goals when I need to make them.  There are certainly times during the year to reflect upon what things you need to change in your life, and the end of one year can be one of those times, but reflection upon needed life change should be frequent.  Setting goals is an essential part of growth and should be made upon reflection upon your life as it is now.

New Years resolutions, as they are traditionally done, are not thoughtful goals made based on serious reflection.  I have reading goals for each year, but again, those are intentional and thoughtful.  They are made upon reflection of what I have read the previous year.  I also set similar goals in the summer as it relates to the church I lead.   Frankly, these goals aren't a "life change" like a resolution.  They are goals I make every year and sometimes do not accomplish.  Nevertheless, I grow throughout the year in my attempt.

Life change should be made as needed.  By life change, I mean establishing new habits that will serve you beyond one year.  My reading habits will serve me for the rest of my life unless I go blind and deaf.  Over a year ago I made some dieting changes in my life, not to lose a certain amount of weight (although I did lose weight) but to become healthy for the rest of my life.  I may have to change my eating habits in the future as my body changes and my activities change, but I made a change that will be constant for the rest of my life.  I decided to eat healthy for the rest of my life.  It was a life change, not a new years resolution.  I will not measure my success at the end of each year, but each day.  When I am not successful I start again the next day.

Go ahead, set a goal, but don't do a new years resolution.  make is specific and be disciplined about following through.  Make it a life change that will last for the rest of your life.