The end of the year is a popular time for people to assess the 365 days that have past and to look forward those that lie ahead. Although we could theoretically do this any time of the year, it just seems appropriate to look at the big picture as the curtains are opening to another year. Some people take the time to make New Year's resolutions, and others take the time to scoff at the people who do. Most resolutions float away like a balloon at a child's 3rd birthday party; dissipating into thin air somewhere around the beginning of February. Why does this happen? How can something that we care about changing become just another thought in dreamland?
It's not because most resolutions are too idealistic. Any change we want to see in ourselves is possible. The problem is that people are too focused on the outcome and not the little steps that they have to take to get there. Rome wasn't built in a day, and a lifestyle change is not likely to be built in a year. Sure, that "big picture" has to be there, because that is what you'll ultimately be painting. But just as you wouldn't throw a can of paint on a canvas, you have to plan out and execute the individual brush strokes. I find that the best way to do this is to work backwards. The hardest part is how to start solving a problem, (any physics student will tell you that) so it's comforting to start with what you know best: where you want to be. Think of all the things that must happen for your resolution to become a reality, and start with the easiest one to accomplish in the present. Then, you're on your way. Before you know it, you'll be looking at a long list of positives that you've introduced into your life. That's better than just looking at the big goal, if you ask me.
Resolutions fail because we tend to look at things through a superficial lens. Oftentimes, we look at certain aspects of our lives too objectively. We see something wrong, and so we attempt to fix it; we take little time in discovering what may have caused the problem in the first place. It's kind of like saying that a headache is a [insert pain medication name here] deficiency. People don't get headaches from not taking enough Advil...that's absurd. There was something that caused the headache in the first place, and ultimately remedying the cause is the best way to get rid of and prevent future maladies. Ask yourself why you want this change, and why you need this change. Take it a step further and ponder if the answer isn't the first one that comes to mind. One example of this is a musculoskeletal injury. Pain in one location is almost certainly caused by a weakness in another, less obvious location. A good metaphor for this (I read this in an article and therefore can't take credit for it's brilliance) is wrapping a thera-band around the back of your head and pulling tightly. You will feel the pain in the back of your neck, but that isn't the origin of the pain. The origin of the pain is the tension in the band, which is located distally from your head. Looking past the obvious is difficult, because it seems most logical. Take some time to delve into the reasons why you are making this resolution. It just might help you in making those little steps.
No resolution stands a chance when it's attacked alone. Even the most disciplined people in the world have someone to report to. It's disappointing to let yourself down, but it's even more disappointing to let someone else down. Whether it be a coach, a friend, a parent, or teacher...human nature has constructed this mentality that others matter more than ourselves. Surround yourself with people either with the same goal or who care about your goal. I've always said to surround yourself with people who model the behavior that you want to see in yourself, but it's even more important to have people who have a modulating role in your life. Fear of disappointment can be extremely powerful if it is handled in the right way.
The word resolution gets a lot of flack because it's usually associated with crowded gyms, sold out bags of spinach and boneless chicken breasts, and February blues. But it doesn't have to be that way. It's totally possible to stick to a New Year's resolution, even if they are a weird concept (I've always thought it strange that people think they have a clean slate and new lease on life because it's January 1st). The beginning of the year is as good as any other to make life improvements. In the meantime, I'll be grumbling through the new gym crowd.
For the record: I do have some resolutions this year, and none of them are fitness related. In short, my encompassing thought heading into 2013 is to make my "worlds" (school, friends, triathlon, personal training, work) work together better. I will live my life as a whole, rather than in sections. I will show people that I love them, rather than merely saying so. I will be healthier from the inside out, pouring into my passions without spreading myself too thin.
Happy New Year all! Make good choices!
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