New Year Resolutions are a beautiful tradition. However, this year I chose not to participate. In the past when I have fallen short of completing my resolutions, I would feel defeated and walk away. We always hear the jokes, especially when it comes to working out, eating healthier, and loosing weight. After a week or a couple, maybe some months, there’s a societal checkin to see who is still sticking to the regimen. It seems to be a social norm that January is a month for us to pack gyms, effectively annoying the regulars. Yet, after a couple of months in, the gym returns to the normal crowd with a few new additions. I feel like this is the story for a lot of resolutions. Approached with vigor, yet disappearing through time.
Instead, this year, I am setting goals with the freedom of change. No strenuous deadlines, unreachable expectations, or being extra hard on myself when I fall short. In the spirit of living my best life, I am determined to live in a constant of space of self improvement. In previous years I have been incredibly hard on myself when it comes to resolutions, goals, and ‘life deadlines’. It lead to me living in constant space of frustration and always feeling like I am behind. This unhealthy habit motivated me but robbed me of the joy of the process.
As I get older, I am increasingly understanding the magnitude of the statements, ‘life is short’ and ‘time moves fast’. There is no point in being ambitious, motivated, and hard working if you let life pass you by while being unsatisfied when everything you accomplish. So, here I am. I choose to free myself from myself. Changing my attitude towards the process, enjoying the highs and lows of achieving my goals, yet cherishing all the other things that matter.
The freedom to change is really just the choice to look in the mirror at myself and say, “It’s okay boo, you’re human, superhuman, but still human.”
