Millions of people commit to New Year’s resolutions each year, yet most sadly give up pretty quickly on their new found personal promises. The goal is generally some form of transformation, whether it be a new quest for physical fitness, healthy eating or a more organised lifestyle. The best way to start a new beginning, though, is to turn to God.
New Year’s Eve is widely celebrated across the globe with much enthusiasm and merrymaking. The month of January is said to be named after the ancient Roman god, Janus, the deity of beginnings, journeys, transitions and endings. Hence, New Year celebrations signify overcoming impediments and welcoming progressive possibilities.
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Human beings have always associated the arrival of a new year with a fresh lease of life and aspired for new beginnings. Around this time, most of us follow the old tradition of making New Year resolutions to bring significant changes in our life. Although different people make different resolutions, the following seem to top the New Year resolutions survey lists: Eating healthy, exercising regularly, quitting addictions, nurturing relationships, working for self-growth, doing charity, conserving the environment and natural resources, helping others and connecting to the Divine.
In a new year, people have initially a lot of excitement and tremendous motivation for working toward realising their new dreams, but as time passes by, they lose momentum completely. A research conducted at the University of Washington reveals that around 75% people fail to sustain their New Year resolutions. Subsequently, they seem to wallow in defeat, stop trying, embrace old behavioural patterns and unconsciously decide to wait for another special occasion. However, making a new beginning and persevering in chasing your dreams is not very complicated.
All you have to do is believe in yourself – yes, it’s terribly simple. Swami Vivekananda states, “All power is within you. You can do anything and everything. Believe in that. Do not believe that you are weak…stand up and express the divinity within you.” Psychologists have also found that self-efficacy and self-esteem, our belief in our ability to shape our life, determines how we perceive ourselves and whether or not we successfully achieve our goals, including fulfilling New Year resolutions.
Individuals with low self-esteem believe that they are doomed because of factors beyond their control. These are the people who find their goals very overwhelming and get discouraged as soon as they encounter the first obstacle on their path. They chose to remain in their comfort zones and refrain from getting passionately involved with their aspirations. In contrast, those with high self-esteem have complete faith in their ability to reclaim their life. They embrace setbacks and challenges as opportunities for new learning and self-growth, keep fighting till the end and emerge as winners.
The Bible affirms that we are created in the image of God and are blessed with an intrinsic perfection and capacity to reach the epitome of holiness. However, we have forgotten the divinity within and instead, we have allowed ourselves to fall into an abyss of pessimism. In this coming New Year, let us resolve to make a new beginning by changing ourselves and consciously aligning with the Divine plan.
When we do struggle and feel weak, we must call on God to be our strength and help to get through our trials. We must stand firm in our faith regardless of what obstacles we encounter and no matter how our family or friends question our faith.
