How Being Present Can Help You Achieve Your New Year's Resolutions
The start of a new year often brings a sense of possibility—a chance to hit reset, set meaningful goals, and embrace new opportunities. However, research shows that most New Year’s resolutions fail by February, often overshadowed by everyday demands and lingering emotional challenges often disguised as excuses. If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. For those navigating major life transitions—such as a divorce or a career change—setting and maintaining resolutions can feel especially daunting. Yet, one transformative practice can help: being present.
Resolutions Are About More Than Just Doing
Most people believe that achieving New Year’s resolutions is all about action—setting plans, checking off tasks, and staying disciplined. While action is important, the real breakthroughs happen when you slow down and look within.
Being present shifts your mindset from constant doing to intentional being. Instead of rushing toward the next milestone, presence allows you to reflect, align with your values, and approach your goals with clarity and purpose. This internal shift creates the foundation for meaningful and lasting change.
Digging Deeper: What’s Behind Your Resolution?
Before committing to a resolution, pause and reflect: What’s driving this goal? Understanding the deeper motivation behind your intention is key to staying on track.
Why It Matters
Sometimes, resolutions are driven by societal expectations or a desire to fix perceived flaws. For example, a resolution to “lose weight” may stem from external pressures rather than a genuine desire to feel healthier. On the other hand, a goal like “spend more time with family” often reflects authentic values, such as fostering connection after a challenging year.
A Client’s Story
One of my coaching clients, S., came to me feeling overwhelmed by her resolution to "get fit." When we dug deeper, she realized her goal wasn’t about fitness itself but about reclaiming a sense of control and confidence after a difficult breakup. With this clarity, she redefined her resolution to focus on self-care practices she genuinely enjoyed, like yoga and long walks in nature. This shift made her goal more aligned with her values and easier to sustain.
How to Discover Your “Why”
Ask Reflective Questions:
Why is this resolution meaningful to me?
How will achieving this goal enhance my life?
Does this resolution align with my higher self?
Write It Down: Summarize your motivation in a short statement and keep it somewhere visible as a daily reminder.
Check for Authenticity: Ensure your goal reflects your true desires, not someone else’s expectations.
When your resolutions align with your core values, they shift from being mere tasks to meaningful steps toward healing, growth, and self-discovery.
Overcoming Emotional Baggage
Unresolved emotions can undermine even the best intentions. Practicing presence enables you to uncover and process these feelings, freeing you from their weight. Instead of being trapped by past regrets or future anxieties, you can channel your energy into actionable steps that align with your current goals.
Breaking Free from Overwhelm
Many resolutions fail because they feel too big or abstract. Being present helps you focus on manageable actions that lead to progress. Rather than fixating on the long-term outcome, ask yourself: What small step can I take today?
Celebrating Small Wins
Progress isn’t just about reaching the finish line—it’s about acknowledging every step along the way. Being present helps you notice and celebrate these small victories, fueling motivation and reminding you of the strides you’ve already made.
Practical Tip for Being Present with Your Resolutions:
Share your goals with supportive friends or join a community that encourages growth. Consider joining my Doing From Being Community, where individuals committed to personal and collective growth through being support each other.
A Fresh Start, One Moment at a Time
Being present doesn’t mean ignoring your past or dismissing your aspirations. Instead, it’s about taking intentional, focused steps toward your goals, one moment at a time.
One of my favorite moments as a coach came when S., the client I mentioned earlier, called to share a breakthrough. She said, "I realized that by focusing on what I can do today, I’ve stopped feeling so overwhelmed—and for the first time in years, I feel like I’m in control of my life." It’s stories like these that remind me of the incredible power of presence.
As you step into 2025, embrace the power of presence. It’s not just a strategy for achieving resolutions—it’s a pathway to reclaiming your power and living a purposeful, fulfilling life.
If you’re looking for support in cultivating presence and aligning your goals with your true self, explore my 1:1 life coaching.