Every year brings opportunities for you to advance in life. A New Year is the ideal time to take stock of your achievements and setbacks.
You may have failed to achieve your targets in 2024. Therefore, make use of 2025 to do at least ten things in your to-do-list. A writer may have failed to complete his book due to some unforeseen circumstances. It will not be a difficult task like climbing the Himalayas. You can do anything if you are determined to do it.
You may be extremely good at certain tasks such as writing a short story or a poem.
Crisis
At the same time, you may be lousy at learning a new language. Stay calm during a crisis and curb your appetite for junk food. Say no to a glass of beer or champagne because they only make you happy for the moment. Do not overspend even if you have a credit card.
I was dreaming of putting up a house and owning a car. But my bank balance did not allow me to realise my ambition. You may be earning enough to save something for a rainy day. Some people spend every cent they earn. This should be avoided in the New Year if you are going to achieve your targets.
Advertisers make us impulsive people to buy things we can do without. Such impulses should be nipped in the bud. Otherwise you will be buying all kinds of unwanted items. If someone offers you one or two apples, what will you take? We, humans being, are greedy animals and might grab two apples instead of one. This shows your lack of control. Think twice before you act. This should be the cardinal principle.
In a study at Stanford University in the United States, psychologist Walter Mischel discovered that a four-year-old who could resist eating a marshmallow while he briefly left the room – for the promise of two marshmallows on his return – was more likely to be successful in later life in the areas of academic performance and emotional intelligence. The study has confirmed that some people have stronger willpower than others. Most smokers are unable to give up their habit due to the lack of willpower.
Willpower is something you should develop quite early in life. Some children begin to smoke under peer pressure. Luckily, strong-willed children know how to deal with peer pressure. When they become adults, they try to break their bad habits. History tells us how ancient Babylonians ate and drank to excess. As a result, they became obese and wasted their money and resources.
Strangely, Babylonians were the first to talk about New Year resolutions and make them realities. They also realised that if they had borrowed something from others, they should return them before the year came to an end. Ancient Romans, on the other hand, sought forgiveness from those they had wronged during the previous year. In the New Year, they renewed their relationships. Today, most of us make New Year resolutions but fail to stick to them.
Recession
Some of the New Year resolutions revolve around financial matters and relationships. Due to recession, we may not be able to save money or settle debts. However, if you are strong willed, you will be able to save even a small amount. To save money you have to cut down on expenses. One method is not to borrow money and spend it. If you make a resolution to tighten your belt, you need not borrow money from others.
When children grow up, they begin to spend less time with their family members. To live happily, you have to spend quality time with family members. Those who do not do so will realise their folly later.
As we grow older, we fail to care for our own bodies. We have to be physically fit to enjoy life. If you keep on watching television all the time, you will become obese. One way to get over the problem is to take part in physical exercises. If you are unable to take part in sports regularly, start walking vigorously. Walk! There is no need to run.
Psychologist Peter Gollwitzer of the University of Konstanz in Germany says people go through the trouble of making when – where – and – how plans are more likely to make their resolutions come true. Those who simply plan are very unlikely to reach their goals. On the other hand, you should be sufficiently motivated to realise your ambition. If you visualise yourself in a better position, it will be a positive motivation. If you constantly think that you will not be able to achieve your goals, it will work as a negative motivation.
Willpower
Your willpower and self-discipline will be depleted if you try to achieve too many goals. Therefore, limit the number of targets you are going to achieve and proceed with a positive mind.
Smokers resolve that they will give up the habit in the New Year. To get positive results, give up the smoking habit in stages. If you have been smoking ten cigarettes a day, reduce it to one or two. A strong-willed person can easily give up smoking in a couple of weeks.
If you are doing a sedentary job, you need regular exercises. If you are unable to join an expensive gym program, the best alternative is to increase your physical activities. Whenever you find the time, do a lot of walking and cycling. In China, many office and factory workers come to their workplaces on bicycles.
Unlike in Sri Lanka there are special lanes for cyclists.
Cynics may laugh at New Year resolutions because most of our resolutions melt away quickly. You need courage to go ahead with your resolutions. Always entertain the feeling that you can do it. Instead of making New Year resolutions on the spur of the moment, think about the ways you are going to achieve your goals. Sensible people put down their New Year resolutions in writing in their diaries or journals. Whenever you turn the pages of your diary or journal, you will be reminded of New Year resolutions.
When making New Year resolutions do not aim too high. Your goals should be realistic. If you resolve to give up smoking, maintain closer relations with your family members and losing your weight at the same time, nothing will work. You cannot change everything overnight. It takes time to change and you have to be single-minded to achieve your goals. Similarly, you have to be specific in your resolutions. Some people resolve to be ‘better human beings’ or ‘improve their knowledge.’ They are vague New Year resolutions.
The arrival of a New Year is a wonderful opportunity for self-improvement. It is a time of hope and renewal.
