The Key to New Year’s Resolutions

Warning: If you read this blog, be prepared to achieve your New Year’s Resolution by the end of 2020!

It happens every year. We are super excited and pumped to hit our New Year’s resolutions. But by the end of January, we may have forgotten about it or even stopped trying. Why? Because it’s hard to change. When we have a tough day or a roadblock, we want to give up. It’s hard to see past the roadblock we are facing. We are walking into new territory we never have before and the unknown is scary.

At the beginning of 2019, I was determined to follow through with a New Year’s Resolution and actually change. What really pushed me forward was a message by Craig Groeschel called “Words to Live By”. Whether faith is important to you or not, I would highly recommend this message. Craig starts out by saying “Your life is moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts”. So whatever you are focusing on and thinking on, that is what will happen. So if you have a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, and you continue to think “I can’t do this” or “I am fat” you will NOT lose weight. If your resolution is to have a healthy marriage and you continue to think “my spouse is so annoying” or “if only he/she would change everything would be better”, you will struggle with this resolution.

No matter what our resolutions are, the thoughts we have matter more. Our thoughts are the KEY to hitting your New Year’s resolutions. “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates. When we keep looking at the old, the stress and the lies, we will struggle to change and build something new. This is what we desire, we want to achieve our goals and hit those New Year’s resolutions. We are sick of the old!

Here are 3 steps you can take to strip away your old thoughts, re-write new ones and achieve your New Year’s resolution(s):

What negative thoughts are dominating your thinking? Write down the 2 to 3 negative thoughts that are very real for you. It’s important we identify our own roadblocks.  Maybe yours is one of these below or maybe it’s something different. Write it down.

• I can’t get it all done.
• I am not organized.
• I’m not a good enough mom/dad/etc.
• I am not loved or worthy.
• I’m always going to struggle with my weight/stress/anxiety/etc.

What truthful thoughts will demolish these lies? These are your “Words to Live By”. Write as many as you would like.

• I have everything that I need to succeed.
• I am not easily offended.
• I am at peace. I am not anxious about anything.
• I am worthy and have a purpose. I am loved.
• Pain and suffering is a sign that health is coming and change is happening. I will continue to read these words of truth when I face stumbling blocks.
• I love my partner and would do anything for him/her.
• I am an amazing parent and I will nurture, equip, love and empower them to be a world changer.
• I love people and believe they are doing the best they can with what they have.
• I am disciplined and organized.
• I am creative, innovative, and driven.
• My body, soul, and spirit is healthy.

Speak these truths out loud throughout the year 2020.

Try to do this first thing in the morning. Even if you don’t feel like it, do this. Before you look at your phone, before you eat. First thing. Every single morning. Watch what happens. You are consistently speaking and your mind is changing. The more you say it, the more you will renew your mind. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Until you believe it. You are called to make a difference in this life. Change is possible. We become new people because we change the way we think.

It is now the end of 2019 and I can proudly say I changed my thoughts. I read my “Words to Live by” most days and now I have it almost memorized. Six months into it I added different words. I do not think I have overcome my thoughts, however, my confidence has grown because I now believe the truth in those words. I still need to read those words every day. If I think I have overcome the negative thoughts that try to creep in, that is when I will go backwards to the old. Rumi has a great quote, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself”. I know I need to keep an attitude of change every day. Never do I think I know everything or have “arrived”. I will never have arrived. Ever. This is what keeps me moving and hitting those New Year’s resolutions. Now onto 2020 with more Words to Live by!!

“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one. –Brad Paisley

References:

“Words to Live By” by Craig Groeschel: https://youtu.be/NjXJWcKxHpY