New Years resolutions, and reasons they can hinder our progression.

The end of 2011 is quickly approaching us. That means that New Years is right around the corner. The beginning of a new year brings joy and happiness for most people. It's a celebration of living to see a New Year. It also gives us an opportunity to reflect upon what has happened in 2011, and in previous years as well. With the coming of a New Year, many people are going to make New Years resolutions. These are the goals and changes that we try to make for the upcoming year. I will be the first to admit that I normally make resolutions for the New Year. However, I won't be doing it this year. I'm going to point out why I feel that making resolutions for a new year can be a bad thing. These are only my opinions, so there is no right or wrong. I just ask that if you disagree with me, that you respectfully do so. Please read on.

If you really think about it, making resolutions for the New Year often defeats the purpose. The goal of making resolutions is to change for the better right? If you are waiting around for the New Year to arrive to make changes, you are procrastinating. Basically, we are waiting to do things that we can probably do today or right this moment. You ever heard the saying, "The present is a gift?" We are not promised tomorrow, so we might as well make changes today while we still can. I know that some things can't be changed right now, and the New Year would be a better time. However, if there is anything we can do to change or better our lives now, lets make it happen NOW!

Lets be honest here. Most of us who make New Years resolutions will end up breaking them. It's not that we mean to do it, but it's just one of those things that happens. We often come down hard on ourselves when we don't stick with our resolutions. This can often give us the feeling of feeling like a failure. This defeats the purpose of setting resolutions in my opinion. The new year is supposed to be a time for happiness and being positive. Coming down on ourselves for not meeting our goals doesn't promote being positive. This is an aspect that we need to lose for making New Year resolutions.

This is something we often do. Not only for New Years resolutions, but in our daily lives as well. This also goes along with my previous reason for not making resolutions for the New Year. There is nothing wrong with setting goals. In fact, setting goals can be a good thing. Goals give us something to work and strive for. They can help keep us motivated to help take us to that next level we want. Some of us set goals that are often not achievable in the time lengths we set. If we set huge goals that we probably won't achieve, we are likely to give up. Lets focus on setting small goals that we know we can achieve. Remember; small steps towards a bigger goal is the best option.

Finally, setting resolutions for the New Year can bring too much comfort. Setting resolutions for the new year can be a positive thing. However, it can bring on a level of familiarity and comfort. In turn this can keep us stuck in the same spot thinking that we can always change things the next year. Sometimes resolutions for the New Year keeps up in our comfort zone. I don't think this is true in all cases, but I believe it applies to some of us. Like I mentioned before, lets do things we're able in the present. We don't need to fall into the level of being comfortable and putting off things. This is something that making New Years resolutions has done for many of us. It's time for us to break this cycle.

I still believe in making positive changes for 2012. I just think it's important not to let our goals for a New Year hinder our progress. I encourage everyone to make goals for this upcoming year, just be aware of how New Years resolutions can backfire on us. Lets focus on setting smaller goals for ourselves, and becoming better people. Thanks for reading, and I hope each of you has a happy, prosperous, and fulfilling 2012.