New Years Resolutions

This thought was originally posted at the start of a new year...

At the start of a new year, people typically resolve to establish a new habit or to break an old one. For example, a person might set a goal to achieve a standard of physical fitness via regular exercise (a new habit) or to break free of a tobacco, alcohol, or drug addiction (to break an old habit).

Any goal involving a habit is likely to have setbacks. Either the person will forget to follow their new habit on occassion, or they will succumb to a temptation to repeat their unwanted habit. On such occassions, the person typically feels that they have failed, and in despair they give up. However, if you realize that this is typical of anyone changing a habit, then you will know that you shouldn't let that deter you, and instead you will keep trying. You haven't failed until you decide that you have failed.

Also, if you are serious about changing your habit, it helps if you tell a friends or family about your goal, and ask for their encouragement. Then over the year, if they give you some reminders, be sure to thank them for that. Remember, a reminder isn't nagging because they are helping you with your goal and you asked them to do so. If you take offense at the help you have asked for, not only will no further help be forthcoming, but you have already decided to fail.

It is also helpful to track your progress. Use a calendar to track the successes or progress as time passes. If you would like to use a computer instead of paper and pen for keeping track, check out the free Pathways software for Windows.

Return to Universal Ethics home page