I Don't Believe in New Year's Resolutions

It’s that time of year again. Or more accurately, it was that time of year a few weeks ago. The calendars are no longer fresh, the motivation has worn off, and for many of us, the New Year’s resolutions have already been abandoned.

What do I want to change about myself this year? What am I lacking? What didn’t I accomplish? How can I beat last year’s accomplishments? New year, new me …  right?

I am an incredibly goal- and achievement-oriented person. I’ve always known this, but once I started discovering personality tests, it became abundantly clear. Enneagram Type 3 — The Achiever. Myers-Briggs — The Debater. CliftonStrengths — Achiever, Activator. The list goes on and on.

Theoretically, I should thrive on New Year’s resolutions. This is my time to shine! Goal setting? Let’s go. New opportunities to become a better version of myself. Being driven is typically seen as a positive . You’ll find that word in nearly every LinkedIn job description. Productivity. Results. Accomplishment. That’s what gets you ahead. That’s how you find the success you’re told to want.

But what happens when you start to define yourself by those things? I found out the hard way.

You start to feel empty. What you do or accomplish is never enough. You feel good for a moment, and then it’s on to the next goal. Always chasing the high of being the best.

That’s why I gave up New Year’s resolutions.

There’s nothing wrong with setting goals or wanting to grow—but it has to be with the right intentions. Jesus is the only one who brings true fulfillment. Aligning our goals and accomplishments with His will is the only way they have lasting meaning.

So now, instead of rushing into another list of things to fix, I spend the New Year reflecting. No new goal-setting. Just looking back. What happened this past year? How is my heart doing?

I still love a good goal. But I want to abound in the gifts God has already given me, not get stuck endlessly chasing more. This New Year—especially now, when the resolutions have faded—is about mindset: staying aligned with God’s will for my life and allowing Him to use my drive to further His kingdom, not my own agenda.