Looking Forward

2017 is finally here, and with it comes a barrage of “New year, new me!” social media posts, a surge in gym memberships and renewed resolutions. The start of a new year is always something to look forward to as it symbolizes a chance for change and new beginnings, so it’s easy to have high expectations for the overall success of the year. It’s human nature to be ambitious and optimistic, but the application of such desires don’t always come to fruition. As a result, we tend to denounce a year as “good” or “bad” based upon our accomplishments, or lack thereof. Instead of remembering 2017 as the year that could have been, we can take matters into our own hands and let it be a good year through our own accord and efforts.

Fundamentally, New Year resolutions are a means of putting your ambition into concrete actions that must be taken, but the investment of high hopes into a single year often leads to disappointment. It’s good to be motivated and you should never try to falsify your goals because you think they won’t be achieved, but there is a degree of realism that must be instilled. Being ambitious is one thing, but hard work and responsibility are the driving forces behind your successes. The things that are stopping you from achieving your goals are well within your control—willpower, motivation, effort—and by coming to understand that, you can take power over them.

Obviously, certain things will be out of your control whether it be on a personal or societal scale,  and you will be forced to deal with the inevitable turbulence of the year. Setbacks will occur and your resolve will be weakened, but for the things that are in your capacity, you hold the power in letting those deterrences influence the outcome of your goals and wishes. It won’t come easily, nor will you necessarily accomplish every resolution you have. However, don’t let this year be another year where you are unhappy with the lack of personal growth or success you had, and instead, make it one you look back on knowing you were able to push yourself to new limits and expand your capacity for resilience.