Change Your Mindset on Resolutions

1. Lose weight.

2. Exercise more.

3. Keep the house clean.

Do these look like your goals for the new year? Year after year, these are among the most popular New Year’s resolutions. In fact, if you’re like many people, these goals were on your list last year, and the year before that… and the year before that.

An estimated 74% of Americans make some kind of New Year’s Resolution, but only 9 % stick with them. Why? They’re not specific, small and realistic goals. Resolutions are often not set for the right reasons. We don’t track our progress, and we tend to be an all or nothing mindset. If we fail, we just give up.

What if for this year, you tried just one of the ideas below, instead of or in addition to something you’ve already resolved to do?

PRAY MORE, WORRY LESS

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

READ THE BIBLE MORE, SPEND LESS TIME ON YOUR PHONE

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path

FOCUS ON JOY, DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS

1 Corinthians 4:7-8 (The Message Bible)

For who do you know that really knows you, knows your heart? And even if they did, is there anything they would discover in you that you could take credit for? Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need. You already have more access to God than you can handle. Without bringing either Apollos or me into it, you’re sitting on top of the world—at least God’s world—and we’re right there, sitting alongside you!

PRACTICE REST, STOP OVER-SCHEDULING

Genesis 2:2-3 (KJV)

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

SPEAK THE TRUTH, FIGHT INJUSTICE

Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow's cause

HAVE MORE PATIENCE

Proverbs 15:18 (NIV)

A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

BE FLEXIBLE AND HAVE AN OPEN MIND IN ALL THINGS

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

FORGIVE AND DON’T HOLD GRUDGES

Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Colossians 3:13

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

LOVE MORE, HATE LESS

John 15:12 (NIV)

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

BE MORE LIKE JESUS

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.