Entry #12: Say No To New Year’s Resolutions

I deeply believe in soul searching and personal development. However, because life is full of so much pressure, what if we ditched resolutions? Every year people make promises to themselves to change their bad habits on January 1st as if that day is magical. Why do we do this to ourselves? Stats say that within days people fall off the wagon regarding their New Year’s Resolutions. It’s because it’s an unrealistic mindset. On January 1st, you can make a promise to yourself that you will lose weight, quit vaping, quit smoking, stop being in toxic relationships, start taking care of your mental health, and the list goes on! Here is what I do instead of making New Year’s Resolutions:

1. I live life one second at a time because I can do that. I can be mindful of my choices because I am very aware that what I choose today creates my life years from now. One drop of water slowly dripping creates a pond. If that continues, it creates a lake, and from there it creates an ocean. What you do today sets you up for next year one drop at a time!
2. I don’t make resolutions because I won’t set myself up for unattainable changes that don’t respect where I am as a person today. Maybe you don’t have the ability to quit smoking yet. Maybe you need to seek out counselling as to why you started smoking in the first place. What if you break your resolution by smoking? Will you beat yourself up? What a terrible way to start a new year! Be kinder to yourself by seeking out professional help that will increase your chances of succeeding.
3. Lastly, I love myself every single day, not one specific day. Don’t you deserve to feel the joy that you can create today by getting to know who you are now? I believe that we get to know ourselves best by making mistakes.

After reading this, it is my dream that you start showing up every day of every year for yourself because today is all we have. Don’t you agree?

 

Stephanie Preston creates powerful, humorous videos on managing bipolar disorder symptoms. She is a Social Service Worker, Health Care Aide and suffers from severe bipolar depression herself. She is the proud wife of St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston, loves being a grandma and is Crossfit obsessed. Follow her at www.tiktok.com/@bipolaronthebrain and www.facebook.com/bipolaronthebrain.