Resolving to Keep the Good

By: Alexandra Murtaugh

In the beginning of every year, people make New Year’s resolutions and often these resolutions involve adding something new to our routines or approaching these routines differently. People use this time of reflection as a way to note the things they’d like to change— whether that’s going to the gym more often, starting a new career, or reaching out to loved ones more. However, resolutions don’t need to be rooted in something we’d like to change about ourselves or our lives. We can resolve to keep something good in our lives.

If you’re someone who has a regular meditation practice, strong familial relationships, a consistent exercise routine, a career you love, whatever it may be, the new year can be a time when you recognize the effort it takes to maintain positive practices and commit to continuing them. Resolutions don’t need to be a moment of change. It can be beneficial to feel gratitude for the structures that currently support our overall well-being and re-commit to them.

Unfortunately, many people begin yearly resolutions and fail to keep up with them. (The gym can look quite a bit more sparse in February and March than in January!) Life gets in the way and for whatever reason, it becomes challenging to maintain throughout the year. But choosing something to continue is more sustainable and allows us to appreciate what we’re already doing. Sometimes it’s not necessary to add another thing or to change, but just to reflect, appreciate, and continue.