Resolution (or) An Annual Experiment in Self-abasement

The internal struggle of a New Year’s Resolution 

I’ve always struggled with the popularized notion turned tradition of annually forecasting some self-help cultured plan for self-improvement.

What is it about the concept of New Year’s resolution that it finds itself so deeply embedded into our culture? Immediately following Christmas year after year, the gnawing question of the New Year’s resolution inflicts our society with symptoms somewhat similar to that of mass hysteria. Forget the always present perpetuation of tradition for the sake consumer market gain—tradition being a word I sometimes feel might as well say, “see: advertising” in my dictionary app—in this instance. Because regardless of the absurdity of it’s presence, and my complete resentment of it, I still find myself sitting down in an uncomfortably inevitable cycle of personal reflection.

Let’s face it. A year an ambitious amount of time to take on one thing that clearly doesn’t come naturally given it’s current lack of presence in our life. The idea of creating a list of all the things you feel guilty about, then selecting just one from the bunch sounds more like a scenario from a pharmaceutical ad for depression medication than it does a system for productive self-improvement.

Last year however, I was taken by the notion of having 12 month long resolutions rather than one annual one. It made perfect sense to me! Taking on more difficult challenges seemed far more likely over a shorter period of time and has the chance of forming into a habit as an added incentive. I could try out new things, develop a string of goals that build up to a collective outcome, and renew my motivation monthly rather than let it become stale and grow mold.

This year I found, reviewing the list from last year, that I had accomplished quite a bit and had some exceptional and welcome changes into my life as a result of some of the goals taken on—personally and professionally. I also completely failed in areas. (luckily the list of failures was overshadowed by the list of accomplishments) But at least I had an idea of why I failed and following came up with ways I could approach it differently the next time I felt inclined to take it on.

So although the concept of a New Year’s resolution will continue it’s annual rein of societal self-shaming will likely not change, at least we can change the way we approach it.