Let's start with a couple of definitions.
The word "resolution" is the noun of the verb "resolve", to reach or make a strong decision about something. You may have noticed "solve" in "resolve", as you see "solution" in "resolution". When we say "resolution", as in NYR, we're talking about solving a problem in order to change a chosen area of your life.
A New Year's Resolution or NYR is a vow, promise or commitment you make on New Year's Eve or on New Year's Day to change a habit or do something different that will benefit you. Once made, the NYR remains in effect until you achieve or abandon it.
Dr. Stephen Kraus, who writes for the life improvement site,
ACQYR, asks, "Are you one of the 40-50% of Americans who make a resolution each year? If you are, will you be part of the 20% who keeps them, or the 80% who breaks them?"
The writer points to research that says, "The long-term success rates of NYRs are only about 15-20%".
Long-term refers to a period of one to two years.
Speaking of Americans, how many of them make NYRs every year to "lose weight or change their eating habits"? Research says almost half, 50%, or about 150 million Americans make those weight-diet resolutions each year. Per research cited by Dr. Kraus, 20% of them break their promise within one week, 68% give up within three months, and only 15% keep their resolution for a year or longer.
The success rate doesn't look great. Yet it shows there are some people, few they might be, who actually achieve their NYRs year after year. So, past failures in the NYR department should not discourage you from making another NYR. Instead, find a way to win a spot among the 15% of NYR success stories.
Example: If I go into the New Year with a desire to pay off some debts, I don't stand much chance of making progress as when I turn my desire to pay off debts into a firm promise in the form of an NYR. Saying to myself, "I will pay off my debts this year" gives power to those words and increases the odds of my actually following through.
Now, let's wrap our minds and hands around some practical strategies.
1. Base your NYR on a spiritual law or moral principle that is bigger than you . If you're into spiritual things, you can turn to the Scriptures of your faith to find such a spiritual, moral principle. If you are a Bible person, you can pick one text that you understand. Memorize it. Meditate on it. A biblical text for your NYR can be Joshua 1:9, Psalm 37:4-5, Proverbs 3:5-6, or Philippians 4:13.
2. Make your NYR a matter of belief firmly rooted in your heart. Though powerful, words are not enough. What we believe in our hearts is how we behave in our lives. So it is crucial that you believe in the greater cause behind your NYR. For the spiritual person, the key to believing something is found in praying or meditating on that thing until it takes root in your heart and mind. If you are into Jesus Christ, you can read His words in Mark 11:22-24, and turn your belief into prayer, the prayer of faith. Base your prayer on the spiritual principle you chose above, and commit your NYR to God, so that you can team up with God. Let total faith set the stage for the discipline, self-control and determination you will need to stay focused and committed to your NYR until you reach your goal.
3. Decide on just one NYR per year, be specific in your NYR, and write it down as a simple mission statement for the year. Writing down your thought or desire helps to clarify your thinking, so you can be very precise about what you want. Instead of writing, "I want to get out of debt," say and write, "I will pay off at least $4,000 of debt by paying $75 or more from every pay check." Instead of "I want to lose weight," make it, "I will lose 40 pounds," or, "I will replace soda drinks with clean water and real fruit juice."
Here are 6 major areas to choose from for your NYR; you can think of others. Choose one that is absolutely necessary for you to achieve this New Year: (1) Spiritual Life (attendance, reading Scripture, meditation, prayer, serving or helping others); (2) Personality & Personal Development (thinking, emotion, attitude, confidence or courage, education, optimism, humor, smile & laughter); (3) Family & Relationships (showing love, forgiveness, reconciliation, restitution, unity, spending time, staying in touch, relationship that must end); (4) Finance (work, business, debt, taxes, budget, giving); (5) Health (food & diet, exercise, lose weight); (6) Time Management (procrastination, being punctual, wise use of time, making a to-do list for each day).
4. Turn your NYR into an action plan. You've decided. You've spoken the promise to yourself or to someone else. You've even prayed over it. Now, it's time to take action, because without doing anything, absolutely nothing will change for the better. Here is a quote that some attribute to St. Augustine, "Pray as though everything depends on God; work as though everything depends on you." The two parts to that statement puts you and God on the same team, making you teammates. That's what a practical action plan does.
Answer these 7 simple questions about your NYR, and you'll have an Action Plan to kick you in driving gear: (1) Why is it important for me to do this? (2) What will be the benefits of achieving my NRY? (3) What will it take for me to start and to stick to it? (4) Whose help or cooperation will I need to achieve my NYR? Do I need an accountability partner to keep me in check? (5) What is my start date? (6) What is my immediate goal or target? What's my initial target date to guage progress? (7) How will I measure success and celebrate progress?
Remember, if you want to change something this New Year, it is better to make an NYR and fail than not to make one at all. Dr. Kraus writes, " The process of making a commitment like a New Year's resolution does appear to increase the likelihood of making a life change and sticking to it. people who try to make the same kinds of life changes without making a resolution do even worse."
