Keeping New Year's Happy

Time to make New Years resolutions? Who says? Resolutions made on the run may do our confidence more harm than good.


New year can be an unsettling time. We often feel a social pressure to make new year’s resolutions. Commitment under pressure is extremely difficult to fulfil. We are much more likely to succeed is we decide on our own judgement to make changes, in our own time, when we are ready.

A rushed pronouncement that we will suddenly change our behaviour – such as, smoking, drinking too much, working too hard – more often than not sets us up for failure. A rushed failing attempt increases the chance of our not visiting the subject for some time.

If the subject is something important which affects our health, relationships, our view of ourselves, planning, preparation, organising supports alternative activities and rewards is worth the delay. Your new year’s resolution then might be to not make rash promises to yourself or others which are likely to result in a sense of failure and possible embarrassment. The result may well be that, when you do begin giving up smoking, for example, or undertaking exercise perhaps, you will succeed and not be stresses about premature New Year resolutions come 31st December 2008.

All that said, people do sometimes manage to make a new years resolution and hold to it. Perhaps they are highly ready, have done their thinking, and have planned how to avoid or deal with their temptations, and are satisfied with the higher rewards of independence.

Discussing your needs for change and how to put it into practice with family, friends or an objective, confidential counsellor who will not judge you as you struggle but support you in your change, can be a helpful adjunct. We are, after all, only human. Enquiries are welcome.

Happy New Year from John Hunter.

John Hunter BSW (Distinction), MAASW (Accredited), MACA (Clinical)
Medicare Provider of Counselling Melbourne and Burwood East
Mobile 0405 107 476, Ph. (03) 9539 2200, Email: john@johnhunter.net.au
www.johnhunter.net.au