Small Steps Can Lead To Bigger Things, So Change Your Resolution
Things That Matter, By Dennis Rizzo
Each time I cross over to the new year I look back and think, “This can’t possibly be as insane as last year.” I’m sure folks have been saying so since calendars were invented and the king decided to celebrate the winter solstice with a cup of spiked ‘nog and a roast beast, (or toasted tofu on skewers).
We exhale after the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza maelstrom and raise a glass to our friends and neighbours. The hiatus between solstice celebration and the new calendar year is for relaxing and shedding regrets accumulated over the prior twelve months. It’s also traditional time to prepare for the next twelve and focus on what we hope to achieve.
Hence, the New Year’s Resolution; a universal embodiment of optimism.
The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to specifically make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honor of the new year—though for them the year began not in January but in mid-March, when the crops were planted.
The Romans borrowed a lot from their subjugated populations. In true fashion they adopted the Babylonian tradition of making resolutions. Celebrating took place during the new planting season in March until Julius Caesar decided to shift the calendar. He decreed January 1 was the start of the year and named the seventh month after himself. In deference to the emperor (and to preserve one’s head) the population concurred.
When moving through Gaul, the Romans began incorporating Celtic and Germanic traditions which also included resolutions in various forms. Jewish (Rosh Hashana), Islam (Muharram) and most Asian traditions incorporate some form of personal resolve associated with the passing of the old year. It seems humans look to the future to absolve our past.
So you are in good company when making your resolutions – and when falling short of success.
“The start of a new year can be full of hope and promise. For most, making resolutions serve as a new beginning, and a reminder of an individual’s capacity for personal growth and positive change, as they set personal goals for the coming year. However, many common new year’s resolutions consist of challenging goals that are notoriously difficult to meet. For this reason, most New Year’s resolutions fail within the first week or months of the year.” (Better Help)
Instead of making a resolution, look for a REVOLUTION.
Change of habitual behaviour is difficult without a focused game plan and achievable goals. Professional intervention can be essential, as when quitting smoking or addiction, and support from family and friends helps with losing weight or changing jobs. In any event, the degree of change you seek should be reachable, pragmatic, and something you personally want to achieve.
Revolt against tired and ineffectual declarations. The change you want to make, or the action you want to take, may require a total rethink of how, who, what, when, and where. Start small. The goals we wish for often become so overwhelming we quit before we start. Follow the K.I.S.S. principle.
Set one important goal for yourself. Then set intermediate objectives that are doable. Make a chart. Reward yourself for reaching interim steps. Arrange for support where needed – professional or otherwise. Take a deep breath and realize change does not happen overnight or without determined effort. If it were easy, everyone would achieve their annual resolutions.
Regarding achieving new goals, attitude, and approach can be paramount. A 2020 study of more than 1,000 participants found that those with approach-oriented goals (e.g. “run a 5k race”) were more likely to succeed than those with avoidance-oriented goals (e.g., “don’t eat junk food”). Goals that focus on a positive outcome often offer more intrinsic motivation than those that focus on avoiding a negative outcome.
Of course, if you’re happy with where you are then there’s no functional purpose to a New Year Resolution. Just have some champagne, watch the assorted television antics, kiss your honey at midnight, and get a good sleep. Trust me – you’ll need the rest for what’s coming in 2026.
(Images Supplied)
Dennis Rizzo joins SUNonline/Orillia as a columnist writing on big issues affecting ordinary Orillians. He is an ex-pat Yank from New Jersey. Orillia, Ontario. Canada is his adopted home, but he has brought along a degree of puckishness and hubris. Dennis spent more than 30 years working in the field of disabilities, with some side trips to marketing and management. He presented and keynoted for many conferences and served on a President’s advisory committee. Dennis is the author of several journal articles and booklets in the field of disabilities and work and five non-fiction books, including “A Brief History of Orillia – Ontario’s Sunshine City.” He recently republished a novel set in 1776 and a mystery set in 1860. He also enjoys sitting in on music sessions around town when he can.
