Many will tell you that the New Year’s resolution is over. And it’s not hard to guess why: through the years, it has become an overhyped, nearly-impossible-to-achieve, trend-focused responsibility we promise to ourselves for the upcoming year. I get it, the idea has turned from a holistic brand of personal wellness into a projected fantasy of ‘New year, new me!’ But before we rush to abandon the resolution, how about we return it to its original purpose: a thoughtful intention and a manifestation of positive change?
First we must recognize the difference between hope versus intention. Hope is a wish that something will happen without action, while intention is the clarity on what to do next to achieve a goal. Not too different from an expectation, hope resides on the powers outside of you, leaving much up to chance; intention resides in internal purpose.
Second, it’s important to recognize that the changes you are making are not in rejection of what you have previously been doing ‘wrong.’ Many wish to rewrite what they dislike about themselves – mentally and physically shedding wrongdoings and unhappiness. These resolutions, the ones birthed from a negative space, are the ones most likely to fail; people aren’t capable of changing overnight, and self-improvement is a personal evolution without perception of a calendar. In the worst of scenarios, the New Year represents a blank slate for people to punish themselves in – such as for the unhealthy habits they took in part in in the past twelve months. Intention should not start with grief and should be flexible – schedules change, circumstances change, routines change. With the greatest chance to persevere, resolutions should come from a place of present power.
Ringing in the new year could be, but doesn’t require a total change in your life. Figure out ‘the why’ of your intention – more money, opportunity, confidence? – and be specific with one resolution. What you’re striving toward should be a target within reasonable reach. If you’re well-versed in the world of wellness, you’ll have heard of visualization before. In an interview for British Vogue at the Louis Vuitton headquarters, Naomi Campbell asked the late Virgil Abloh, American fashion designer and founder of Off-White, “How did you get this job?” His reply: “I dreamt about it, I willed it into fruition, thinking that it could happen and doing everything in my power to sort of make it cross my path. I can name instances eight years ago that were part of this process, I can name instances eight months that were part of it. I think it’s a metaphor for anything one wants to do in life.”
Visualization and intention aren’t limited to the new year, but the root of a resolution can have a positive domino effect on your life when it comes from a loving place of support. Change shouldn’t fight you, it should motivate you to reach your goal and promote accountability for your actions. Don’t focus on the reward, but be sure to congratulate yourself along the way. Relapses are realistic, but remember you are on the right track. Your mind is more powerful than you think.
