How many January 1st’s have you begun with a list of resolutions?

• Lose weight
• Exercise more
• Read the Bible regularly
• Get organized
• Keep in touch better
• Volunteer

 

There’s a reason New Year’s resolutions don’t work.  Resolutions don’t inspire. They begin with things to “do” instead of inspiring you to want to “become” something different.

Why do you want to lose weight? Perhaps to become more confident.

Why do you want to declutter your house? Maybe to feel more peaceful.

Why do you want to volunteer? Probably because you desire to become more generous.

The resolutions are more about the end results . . . who we become . . .but the focus is so much on what we need to do, that we lose the inspiration to succeed. We get discouraged because we stopped going to the gym, missed a few days of the devotion, or ate a piece of pie.  We failed.

So what would happen if instead of choosing things to “do” differently, we chose to “become” different in some way.  Not completely different.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made. But chances are, if you have a lot of New Year’s resolutions rolling around in your head, then you probably have something about yourself that you’d like to be different. And who doesn’t have something that could use a little tweaking?

This year, instead of making that fateful list, try choosing a word that reflects the changes you need to make in your life. Find a word that you believe will inspire you to work toward becoming, not just doing. Search Scripture for your word. Keep it in your mind, post it around your house where you’ll see it every day, contemplate it. Ponder.  Let your word guide you into action.

Don’t make resolutions you know you won’t keep. Be inspired this New Year.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~Romans 12:2

For more inspiration about choosing a word for you year, take a look at the book, My One Word: Change Your Life with Just One Word by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen.

Have you chosen a word in the past? How did it change you or guide your decision making?  What will you choose for 2016?