Revisiting New Year’s Resolutions

Many people scoff at the idea of creating new year’s resolutions, dismissing them as fanciful promises that dissolve almost as soon as they are spoken. To such critics, resolutions feel artificial and even intrusive as though the turning of a calendar page were imposing moral demands upon the soul. This scepticism often arises from years of observing resolutions announced with enthusiasm and abandoned quietly. The familiarity of this pattern has led many to regard resolutions as hollow rituals, exercises in self-deception rather than meaningful acts of intention.

Yet this dismissive view overlooks the deeper value that resolutions can hold when approached with focus, honesty and care. When grounded in reflection rather than fantasy, resolutions can offer direction, helping individuals shape their lives with greater purpose. They are most meaningful when they move beyond the pursuit of wealth or the accumulation of earthly possessions and instead attend to the enduring foundations of human well-being. Spending more time with family, maintaining close relationships with friends, improving health, feeding the mind and helping others are resolutions that retain their significance long after the excitement of January fades. In the end, these are what truly matter because they contribute to our well being far more deeply than money or material goods ever could.

The turning of the year has always carried symbolic weight. As one year closes and another begins, people are drawn almost instinctively to reflection. Memories of joy and disappointment surface together, creating a sense that life can be reexamined and gently redirected. The new year feels like a threshold, a moment suspended between what has been and what might yet unfold. It invites a pause, asking individuals to consider whether daily habits align with deeper values. Resolutions emerge from this pause as expressions of hope, signalling a belief that the future can be approached with greater wisdom than the past. Although the calendar itself is a human construction, the emotional meaning attached to it is real. For many, this moment offers the courage to articulate aspirations that have lingered quietly throughout the year.

Critics often argue that resolutions fail because they are unrealistic. There is truth in this observation as many people announce sweeping intentions that demand immediate transformation. As a gym patron for many years, I have observed gyms filled with people at the beginning of the year, with numbers slowly declining as the months progress. Promises to change one’s entire lifestyle within a year can feel fantastical when faced with ordinary responsibilities, fatigue and unexpected challenges. Such resolutions often collapse under their own weight. Yet this tendency towards excess reflects a misunderstanding of resolutions rather than their inherent weakness. When resolutions arise from thoughtful self-assessment and are shaped by attainable actions, they become tools for growth rather than sources of frustration. A resolution grounded in realism recognises limits while still aspiring towards improvement.

The pressure associated with resolutions frequently stems from the belief that they must be dramatic or impressive to be worthwhile. This belief encourages people to focus on goals that are easily measured or socially admired such as earning more money, achieving professional recognition or acquiring visible symbols of success.

While financial stability has practical importance, an exclusive focus on material gain often leaves deeper needs unaddressed. A person may advance professionally while feeling disconnected from loved ones or depleted in spirit. Constructive resolutions recognise that fulfilment rests upon balance rather than accumulation. They shift attention from what is owned to how life is lived on an everyday level.

Spending more time with family exemplifies this shift in focus. Contemporary life fragments families through demanding schedules, physical distance and constant distraction. Even shared spaces can lack genuine connection when attention is divided between screens and obligations. Nowadays, it is common to see families and even couples seated together in restaurants, yet absorbed in their phones throughout the meal rather than engaging in meaningful conversation with those beside them. A resolution to create regular moments of togetherness can counter this fragmentation. This approach might involve shared meals, unhurried conversations or simple traditions that create continuity. These moments may appear ordinary, yet they form the emotional fabric of life. Over time, they foster trust, understanding and a sense of belonging that material success alone is unable provide.

Maintaining close friendships reflects a similar understanding of fulfilment. Friendships require intention and care, yet they are often neglected amid the pressures of work and family life. A thoughtful resolution might involve reaching out more regularly, listening with patience or offering support during difficult periods. Such gestures strengthen bonds that protect against isolation and foster resilience. Strong friendships provide spaces where individuals can speak openly, share humour and find reassurance. In this way, resolutions centred on friendship become investments in emotional well-being and mutual care.

Improving health remains one of the most common resolutions, although it is often misunderstood. Health is frequently reduced to appearance or numerical targets, leading to goals that feel restrictive rather than supportive. A more constructive approach views health as the foundation that enables all other aspects of life. Resolutions that emphasise regular movement, balanced nourishment and sufficient rest honour the body as a partner rather than an obstacle. Choosing to walk regularly, prepare meals with care or establish consistent sleep routines may appear modest, yet their cumulative impact on energy, mood and resilience is profound. Such resolutions focus on sustainability rather than perfection.

Feeding the mind represents another vital dimension of growth. In a world saturated with information, deliberate learning can easily give way to passive consumption. A resolution to read thoughtfully, engage with unfamiliar ideas or develop a creative skill nurtures curiosity and intellectual vitality. Setting aside time for reading, writing or artistic practice enriches inner life and fosters a sense of progress that exists independently of external validation. These pursuits remind individuals that growth continues throughout life and that the mind flourishes when treated with care and intention.

Helping others extends the purpose of resolutions beyond the self. Acts of service connect personal growth with collective well-being, reinforcing a sense of meaning rooted in compassion. Volunteering time, offering skills or showing attentiveness to those in need fosters empathy and gratitude. Such actions, whether undertaken through organisations such as Rotary International or Toastmasters International, often yield unexpected rewards, including a deeper appreciation of one’s own circumstances and stronger connections within the community. When resolutions include helping others, they challenge the notion that self-improvement is a solitary endeavour and affirm that fulfilment is relational.

The scepticism surrounding new year’s resolutions often arises from their abandonment. Yet abandonment in no way diminishes their value. Even short-lived efforts reveal priorities and obstacles, offering insight into what truly matters. A resolution that fades may indicate that it was driven by external expectation rather than internal conviction. Recognising this distinction allows individuals to refine their intentions with greater honesty. Seen in this light, resolutions function as experiments rather than rigid contracts, encouraging learning rather than judgement.

A compassionate approach to resolutions recognises that change unfolds gradually. Habits form through repetition, and setbacks are part of progress. When people interpret a lapse as total failure, motivation dissolves. Those who allow room for imperfection are more likely to persist. Returning to an intention after interruption strengthens resilience and deepens commitment. This perspective transforms resolutions from burdens into guides that support long-term growth.

Focus plays a crucial role in sustaining resolutions. Without focus, intentions scatter and effort weakens. Choosing a small number of meaningful aims allows energy to be directed where it matters most. Focus also requires clarity. A resolution to spend more time with family gains strength when expressed through specific actions, such as setting aside a weekly evening together. Similarly, a desire to help others becomes tangible when linked to a particular form of service. Focus bridges aspiration and action, translating hope into practice.

Ultimately, the value of new year’s resolutions lies in their alignment with values rather than public declaration. Quiet resolutions, held privately, can be just as transformative as those shared aloud. What matters is sincerity and patience. When resolutions reflect a genuine desire to live with greater presence, kindness and balance, they contribute to a coherent and meaningful life.

Money and possessions dominate many cultural narratives of success, yet their ability to sustain happiness is limited. Financial security can ease certain pressures but relationships, health, learning and service continue to yield fulfilment throughout life. Resolutions that prioritise these areas acknowledge a deeper truth about well-being. They affirm that a good life is measured less by accumulation and more by connection, care and purpose.

As each new year arrives, the ritual of resolution invites reflection and choice. When approached thoughtfully, resolutions become expressions of possibility rather than pressure. They remind us that growth remains available at every stage of life and that small, consistent choices shape who we become. Far from being fantastical, such resolutions are grounded in daily actions and relationships. They offer direction and meaning, guiding individuals towards lives defined by depth rather than display, and by what truly endures.

Footnote
Dr Richard A. Gontusan is a Human Resource Skills Training and Investment Consultants. His views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of The Borneo Post.