Why New Years' Resolutions Doesn't Work?

As the year closes, we think about what we will accomplish the next year and then we conjure up all these great ideas. We write them down, we vow to commit, and we convince ourselves we can do it. And to be honest, we have EVERY intention on completing our resolutions. We start fresh, pushing forward with so much energy and tenacity and then within a few weeks, all of our plans become a distant memory. As a result of our resolutions not becoming reality, we feel like we have failed. BUT it is not that we failed .... our approach wasn't practical.

The difference between WOTY and Resolutions is a word of the year has a freedom that resolutions often don't possess. It's a guide to go into a particular direction instead of completing tasks. Now, keep in mind, WOTY doesn't mean you don't treat it seriously. There are ways to incorporate this guide into your life.

As we wrapped up 2022, my girls and I, sponsored a "Self-Care Saturday" event. Our guest speaker, one of my close friends and Master Social Worker, Ms. Seth, challenged a group of us to adopt Word of the Year (WOTY) in 2023 as opposed to a NY's resolution. While there may have been some who were skeptical of making changes, we need to be mindful that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.

During this day of fellowship, Ms. Seth tasked a few of us to try this. Some of the words the group of ladies came up with were BLOOM, SNOWBALL, MANIFEST, RESET and EMERGE.

How does WOTY work?

Focus on one or two things you can do to incorporate the word into your daily routine. Gradually, thinking about the word will become a part of your life and will also hold YOU accountable. Everything you do, you will begin to think, does this activity or task reflect my WOTY. Keep a journal and every week, write down what 1 or 2 things you did to incorporate the WOTY into your life. You will be AMAZED as to what you have accomplished by the end of this year. Additionally, share your WOTY with your family and friends and they too will help you be accountable.

What is ONE word you will choose to incorporate in everything you do in 2023? Are you committed to applying that word to EVERY aspect of your life in 2023? Let's break routines and focus on achievement.