How can you enjoy a truly happy new year? What would give you that sense of satisfaction you crave? How can you achieve that goal, take that step, or make that one change you know you need to make?
If you make New Year resolutions, you’re probably aware of how few of them you carry out. If you think you can lose weight, quit smoking, or cut back on your alcohol use, you’re probably, though not certainly, going to fail. How can you make sure you achieve these or other worthy goals?
All three of the above behaviors have an addictive quality about them. In other words, our body is involved along with our will. We try to withdraw from the substance only to find we give in–again. Who hasn’t resolved to stop doing something habitually, only to have the habit return with a vengeance. That creates frustration, feelings of failure, guilt, and shame. And, in a positive light, if you know you need to make time for God each day, but your discipline isn’t up to it, you’ll start, then slip, and end with the same result.
If you want to overcome a bad habit, therefore, or add a good one, you’ll need help. Attempting to extinguish a bad habit or initiate a new one on our own is like trying to learn how to drive a car without an instructor. The instructor provides information, corrects us when we’re wrong, and encourages us when we do the right thing. Without someone we give permission to watch our every move, anticipate our next challenge, and think through issues with us, we fail in our solitary efforts at reform.
Maybe that’s where your New Year’s Resolution comes in handy: You can resolve to find someone you trust, give them complete authority to ask you anything any time, and hold you accountable for what you resolve.
Who will you identify to help you take those important steps you need to take in 2014? “In 2014, I resolve to ask ______ to help me …”
