I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions. While their intention is good, they don’t usually end up in a good spot but rather as a reminder of suckitude and failure. The resolutions become a stick that I flog myself with as proof that I don’t measure up somehow. Even the ones I manage to complete, I lose to those I didn’t. Resolutions stop being a victory or celebration. I know I am not the only one, as I see my social media feeds already filled with lamenting about lack of success.

So why do we do it? Why do we come up with many resolutions we know we will not keep?

Over a decade ago, I asked myself the same questions. I finally woke up to using year after year of failed resolutions as a way to beat myself up. However, I like the idea of giving myself a goal to work on throughout the year. In that vein, I ditched the resolutions for a yearly life theme. In the last few days of the old year, I reflect on the previous 12 months and think about what I want to do and feel over the next 12 months. Then, look for a common theme between them, which becomes my life theme for the year.

This year I chose: Self.

I’m far from alone in that the last two years have been challenging to put it mildly. While it hasn’t been all bad, there has been more of it than the good stuff. I want more of the good stuff. I want more happy times. I want more smiles than tears. I want more days of even keel instead of bone-crushing depression. So, for 2022, I plan to be the center of my own universe.

What would you select if you had to pick a theme for your 2022? What is a word, or a feeling, or a centralizing rallying cry that says, “heck yes, this will get me through another year!.” Find it, hold it, and take steps to incorporate this theme into everything you do. I’m confident at the end of 2022, going into 2023, you’ll have much more to celebrate.

Photo by Eyestetix Studio on Unsplash