I think people are missing the point with New Year’s Resolutions. They’re always the same: lose weight, spend less money, stay organized, etc. Though, aren’t those full of negativity in a sense? We’re telling, well, commanding ourselves to be and do certain things in an instant. No wonder we can never stick with them.
Instead, why not give yourself time to discover new habits? Why not find things that will help promote accomplishing those goals? Why not start with happiness? I mean really what you’re saying when you start a resolution is, “by completing this task, I will be happier,” right? It’s about self-improvement. Perhaps by making happiness a priority, those things will come naturally, because you see that they inevitably bring you happiness.
This is why my New Year’s Resolution was to start “The Happiness Project.” It’s a five-year journal in which you write one sentence about each day. Not only does it help you to remember the little things in life, but it’s also extremely rewarding to see them add up. For instance, you may think you did absolutely nothing today, but you actually cooked a new meal, or rode your bike to the grocery store, or helped a friend with homework.
So my resolution is to discover a little more happiness in the little things in life.
-Kd.