Setting New Year’s “Resolutions” that Stay Feeling Good

New Year’s Resolutions. For some, these strike a spark of inspiration, hope, and excitement. For others, they’re a reminder of failed resolutions past.

A few years ago, I started setting New Year’s intentions instead of goals. Sometimes, I chose a word to guide my year, like “slowness” or “joy.” I would use this simple word as an anchor for decision-making, curating the energy I wanted for my year. It could guide goals if I had any, but I wasn’t attached to measurable outcomes. Other times, I chose more specific intentions, still without an attachment to measuring outcomes. For example, I’d hold the intention of having more hard conversations or trying three new things that year.

Living in a capitalist society, we’re told to do more, more, more. Increase productivity. Improve outcomes. Be better, better, better. While this isn’t a post about capitalism, it is a recognition of the way capitalism shapes our self-worth. We’ve been told that our worth is tied to outcomes and achievements and have forgotten the beauty of slowing down and truly appreciating what we already have.

So what if this year you allowed yourself to shake the goals and instead set an intention of being more present with those around you? Doing less to live more? Are you a better person if you achieve more or if you’re more available for the people around you?

There is no right or wrong way to do New Year’s resolutions. Sometimes we need goals to push us, and other times we need intentions to slow us down. Whatever you choose to do this New Year’s, I simply encourage you to ask yourself how you want to feel this year. What do you want to lean into or allow more of in your life?

And if you do choose to set goals, know that it’s okay if life happens and the year doesn’t go quite as you planned. It’s okay if you get halfway to your goal, then realize you don’t want it anymore. The ebbs & flows in our years are nothing more than constant opportunities to know ourselves more.

Wishing you all a year filled with authenticity and being more you, whatever that looks and feels like.

Let’s Stay Rooted in the Connection of our Humanity.

- Savanna