New Year Resolutions – Part 2

In the final reflection of our series, I want to look at another aspect of making resolutions. Yesterday we looked at setting doable goals to assist in growth – goals neither too large nor too small.

But before we look at something new it is worth noting we need to beware of setting too many goals at once. A series of failures to maintain discipline can easily escalate into a wholesale dumping of the entire project so that we end up worse off than if we hadn’t even begun; too much can be too much, and once bitten, twice shy.

Habits are created by repetition, by being habitual. It is a truism that if we do something new for 28 days (4 weeks) we will establish a new habit. It is the constant repetition that makes the new habit and once a habit is established it becomes quite hard to undo. In other words, you must be quite intentional to void that new habit.

Start with a week, and then a month in mind, with any new habit/practice –0 not one year. Doing this makes us more accountable to ourselves than if we are looking at a longer time frame – in this case, one year. You can put off something when there are 365 days stretching way out in front of you, whereas it is much harder to so when it is only 7 and then 28 days. They are staring you down, throwing down the gauntlet of action and commitment. 365 days aren’t staring you down, causing you reasonable and motivating intimidation as you can barely see them.

And remember as James stated – hearing (and thinking) is not doing. Doing is the pathway and the rewarder - hearing isn’t.

There is little better, humanly speaking, than gaining ground with self-discipline, with resolve.

Prayerfully consider what is required to affect change in your life. Make a considered resolution, and don’t forget the great resource of your church community – those who have gone before you, those who have overcome, and those who are an encouragement by their victories and defeats. If they can, so can you.

Happy New Year