How Small Positive Actions Are The Key To Meaningful New Year Resolutions
Created over 4,000 years ago, the act of creating and - trying - to stick by new year resolutions has long been a custom in starting a fresh page. Robin Cade, author of The Golden Rule, tells us why small actions are the key to making your resolutions meaningful.
New Years resolutions came into existence for Christians in 1740 when English clergyman John Wesley, founder of Methodism, created the Covenant Renewal Service. This was normally held on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Scriptures would be read and hymns sung, while plans for making a difference in the new year were outlined and prayed for. Years later, New Year Resolutions have become part of wider society, a practice used by those religious and non-religious.
The problem that most of the population faces in modern times is the strength to see resolutions through to the end. In fact, during the analysis of 800 million activities, it was found that most new year's resolutions tend to be abandoned after only nineteen days! So how can you yourself make a positive difference for 365 days, not just nineteen?
The Answer Lies in Small, Repeatable Actions
When Tesco said ‘Every Little Helps', they may have also been referring to introducing new habits - as it is the magic spell in sticking to your resolutions! Small consistent actions make a huge impact. For example, just think about if every single individual picked up one piece of litter, how little rubbish there would be lying around.
Researching the topic of practice, James Clear created a self-help book entitled ‘Atomic Habits’ which outlined that every time we go through a habit, we complete a four-step process:
Cue
Craving
Response
Reward
Ideally, if we want to form new habits, we have to make the tasks that we set ourselves obvious, attractive, easy and satisfying so that we feed the process to keep the wagon moving. Habit trackers are a great way to measure your progress to make the work you do satisfying, ensuring you see the bigger picture and carry on through.
The Golden Rule
Resolutions do not have to be picking up hobbies or doing something good only for yourself. Consider sticking to a resolution that gives back to your community. As an author I've spent many years researching the beauty of an interesting concept called ‘The Golden Rule', which describes the historic unification of a common principle used worldwide by communities and tribes to enable them to live together, caring and sharing. The principle helped them cope with problems and increase their happiness – their quality of life.
And this is why it should form the basis of your New Year Resolutions.
In basic terms, The Golden Rule is treating others how you wish to be treated yourself, and this can take the form of a small and simple act.
Most new year's resolutions tend to be abandoned after only nineteen days!
Like James Clear covered, small acts (or habits) consistently and mindfully achieved add together to create a larger change or shift. It’s the same with The Golden Rule; simply smiling at a stranger on the street is enough. Small acts of kindness, such as complimenting the chef at a restaurant or tipping the waitress a little extra, can make someone's day. You never know what demons a person is dealing with, and a simple tip or compliment could make their week. Besides, if they pass on the kindness, it could always find its way back to you.
By treating others the way you wish to be treated, you can end up making the world a kinder environment. This goes for the ecosystem too. With the planet in critical condition, we need to do all we can to curb climate change. By simply picking up a piece of rubbish on your way to work, or choosing a quick shower over a bath one evening, you are taking small steps to a more sustainable future, which could mean so much more in the long run if we all worked together.
The world is a large and sometimes confusing place, and treating people with the kind of respect and love that you would want to receive can make a huge impact. If we all do our best to make the world a more caring environment, then we will eventually receive the treatment we would want ourselves. So - what are you waiting for? Start planning those Resolutions!
Robin Cade is the author of The Golden Rule, which describes the historic unification of a common principle used worldwide by communities and tribes to enable them to live together, by caring and sharing.
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