New Year, Same You

"5...4...3...2...1...Happy New Year!"

We've all been there. Fireworks ensure that the New Year enters our lives with a bang, music sparks joviality, and spirits rise as the promise for a "New Year, New You" starts. "Auld Lang Syne" sounds, and strangers dressed in glittering clothes weave their hands together and dance, laughing loudly. Couples kiss, happy to see the New Year in with their significant other at their side. The atmosphere is filled with this new sense of promise, as friends and family celebrate together.

And then the resolutions start.

"This is going to be my year," someone smiles, pouring a drink.

"I'm going to lose weight," another tells their friend, as the music blasts. "New Year, New Me. All of my plans that I've put off for so long, I'm going to put into action."

"2018 is going to be so much better than 2017, I just know it," the person’s friend replies. "I’m going to be so organised. I’ve got one of those diaries with positive quotes on it to inspire me, and I’m just going to try really hard this year to improve myself." She throws back her head and laughs, eating the olive that is floating in her cocktail.

But when do we say that regardless of whether it's a New Year or not, nothing has really changed? There might be something magical about observing the passing of time, watching the clock change from 11:59 to 12:00, and thinking that the world has entered a new era. It may also seem like a nice idea to open the front door and allow the New Year in, whilst shouting well wishes to the neighbours and anyone nearby—but time is still just a human construct, a concept we've developed, and it has no real effect on events that follow. Yes, another year may have entered history, whilst the world chimes the New Year in, and with that, naturally, comes anticipation. We feel like it’s a time for refresh, for change, for transformation, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

We make New Year resolutions, and most of them are never kept, but this is OK. Every day is a time for personal growth—when you want to change things, just start putting the necessary steps into motion. Think about where to start, jot down the ideas, and see how you go.

If you've had a resolutions list in the past that has simply put pressure on you and has seemed unrealistic (maybe you've wanted to change your personal appearance, get a new job, go on that dream holiday, etc.), perhaps you should change your resolution list to look something like this...

1) Spend more time with the people I love.

2) Be grateful—there’s always somebody worse off.

3) Accept that things happen beyond my control.

4) Be open to change.

5) Be happy.

6) Be present.

7) Help others.

8) Don't take things for granted.

9) Be kind—one random act of kindness a day (e.g. feed the birds, stroke a cat/dog, hold the door open for someone, pay a compliment, buy somebody in need a hot drink, listen more).

10) Focus on people, not things. Why do we measure success on what we have, rather than who we are?

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These resolutions can be applied to everyday life. They teach us to accept, to learn, to love more, and, ultimately, will build us into better people. Don't focus on the superficial side of life—it isn't important.

Happy New Year, and don't forget to smile—the world will smile back.