New Year's Resolutions - Go Small, People

Photo:  Calvin and Hobbes, from inquisitr.com

I adhered to a fast and hard rule (with a death grip) for many years:  Do not make resolutions for the new year.  Why?  Because I, like many, chose to go for broke.  I will be at the gym 5 days a week.  I will cut down on my frivolous spending and put more money in savings.  I will be nicer to people.  I will give up diet soda because I don't want to be drinking formaldehyde.  I will live greener.

Like most humans, I'm doomed from the get-go because these are vague, broad and H U G E promises I'm vowing to keep, predetermining my failure.  The inevitable breaking of these resolutions leaves me feeling more like a walking emotional implosion than ever!

Having realized this, yet still possessing the urge to continue on my never ending journey of self-improvement, I have resumed with the resolution making, only I am keeping my goals modest and obtainable.

We can stop beating ourselves up.  It's simple...we over-commit.  Nearly 90% (I got that statistic from somewhere, but for the life of me, can't remember where) of those who make resolutions, fail.  Let us all change that stat!  Think big, sure (as in the big picture the future), but go small.

For example, I am fairly certain I will not give up diet soda (I don't mind a little formaldehyde in my blood)...but I can cut down.  I can say with certainty that you will not see my behind in the gym 5 days a week this year, but I've been running an average of 3 days a week, and I can maintain that.  I know I will not cut out all frivolous spending this year, but I can choose to allow myself a new pair of jeans for maintaining my weight!  Me being nicer to people in general is never going to happen, but I will promise to go out of my way to be nice to those who don't piss me off.

Happy 2012 everyone.  Do your best!

 

--Fortuitous Observer