New Year, New Intentions

By Katelyn Mase

As we welcome in the new year, there is, for many of us, a unique sense of readiness for change.

Colloquially referred to as New Year’s resolutions, we view the start of a new year as a time to shed old habits, welcome new, “healthier” choices, or even change something dramatically about ourselves.

Making healthy, positive changes seems like a no-brainer, and, yet, the rhetoric around the futility of New Year’s Resolutions abounds – societally, we have found ourselves at a point where we joke about and almost expect “failure” of our resolutions.

Perhaps, it is time to shift our thinking about the opportunities the transformative nature of the new year presents.

Think for a moment about a resolution you would like to make. 

Is your resolution overly or unrealistically specific? Read 50 books, go to the gym everyday, quit social media, travel through Europe?

What if part of what makes sticking to a resolution so difficult is the narrow definition of success?

With the seemingly continuous shrinking of the attention span in the age of the ✨ metaverse ✨ and a narrow definition of success that almost insists on delayed gratification tolerance, we are set up for failure before the new year even begins.

So, what can you do?

Try expanding your definition of success by setting New Year’s Intentions instead!

In contrast to resolutions which usually emphasize drastic change, often in an unrealistic, shame-filled way, intentions are an extension of the values we hope to embody. When the focus shifts to our values, the definition of success expands dramatically. Suddenly, we have limitless options for what success looks like available to us!

To set New Year’s intentions, look to the root of your old resolutions.

Does that sound tricky or vague? Let’s look at an example:

If your resolution was something akin to read 50 books, go to the gym everyday, quit social media, or travel through Europe, perhaps being more mindful with your time, technology use, or money is an appropriate intention.

Alternatively, maybe trying to focus on what makes you feel good this year feels more aligned to you.

We could generate many alternatives to these intentions, but whatever you decide to call it, suddenly these separate resolutions morph into a single, expansive definition of success 🤩

When you ask yourself “What would make me feel good today?” or “How can I be intentional with my time right now?”, there can consistently be an answer that feels accessible to you at that moment, opening the door for little wins every day.

So, I encourage you to try setting New Year’s intentions instead of resolutions this year and see the positive shifts that may result!