In a couple months I’ll have been blogging for five years. That means I’ve blogged about resolutions at least five times. I’ve gone through phases – writing about my goals, writing about my failures, declaring an end to the practice of making resolutions in the first place and, most recently, sharing a few resolutions (like eating more chocolate) that I believe we can all manage to keep this year.
But as I’ve been reflecting on the nature of resolutions and the fact that most of us don’t keep ours (and yet continue to make them every year in a baffling display of optimism), something occurred to me. I realized that the majority of changes I’ve made in my life have nothing to do with resolutions or a date on the calendar.
See, I set goals for myself all. the. time. Eat more vegetables. Exercise more. Organize my pantry. Plan meals before going to the grocery store. Get up early. Floss my teeth. Watch less TV (as if!). And more often than not, I decide to start pursuing these goals next week, next month, next year.
So often when I set goals for myself, make resolutions to change or improve, it’s all about the next. I get wrapped up in the planning and the dreaming and the I’m-gonna-do-it-this-time-no-really-I-am, and I forget to actually start.
I say, “I’ll start on Monday,” but somehow, Monday never comes.
Have you ever done that?
Have you ever put off your dreams, your goals, your resolutions for the next, for Monday?
Have you ever had a case of the Mondays?
The interesting thing about this is that I have, certainly, made changes to my life and met goals I set for myself. Many times I’ve resolved to change something – and I have!
In the last couple of years, I’ve stopped speeding (for the most part), started taking vitamins every day (or most every day), remembered to take my canvas bags to the grocery store (usually), made a point to invite friends over for dinner once a month, balanced my checkbook twice a month, read a lot more of the Bible than I did the year before and finished a few of the non-fiction books that have been collecting dust on the shelf for months.
You wanna guess how many of those things happened on a Monday or January 1? {None.}
Have you broken or met your New Year’s resolutions for this year?
Have you been waiting for next week, next month or next year?
Or are you moving forward, standing back up when you fall, reaching for those goals?
Have you set goals and made plans, but forgotten to start doing?
What’s stopping you from starting now instead of next Monday?
Do you keep your New Year’s or Monday resolutions?
Or do you meet more goals that you set through the year or the week?
By Mary Carver, Giving Up on Perfect
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Do you have a case of the Mondays? — Giving Up on Perfect says
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Linda Stoll says
Thanks, Mary. This year? No resolutions. Just one word – REVEAL.
http://creeksideministries.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-word-for-2013-is_3.html
I like this. It’s always present, never too far away. But it’s but not a harsh taskmaster, rather a winsome invitation to freedom and growth.
And I think the end result will be better than any goals I’ve set before …
Marina Bromley says
Perfect!
And those things that don’t happen? Why are they ALWAYS good for us? We never say “speed more”, “eat more” (besides veggies), etc.
I want to sleep more! And I’ll roll over and try, right now! (It’s vacation, I’m allowed!)
Thanks for sharing!
Heather says
Can I say that I laughed out loud when I saw the picture of the red stapler and the title of this post?!? LOVE it!! I gave my husband a red stapler when we were dating and it still makes me chuckle 🙂
As for resolutions… while I rarely make any with the new year, I often use the first of the week or the first of the month as targets for when I will start some new goal or endeavor. While the ultra-planner inside of me likes this, it is often an excuse to procrastinate 🙂 Being a perfectionist, I also get very discouraged when, in week 2 or 3 of my new discipline I falter or fail. A friend recently told me that she was comforted by remembering that we get to reset the clock ever 24 hours. A new day, a fresh new start. This encourages me when I inevitably mess up – rather than feeling like a failure and giving up my goals altogether, I can take a deep breath, extend myself a little grace, and hit reset for the next day!
Cheryl says
“A friend recently told me that she was comforted by remembering that we get to reset the clock ever 24 hours. A new day, a fresh new start. This encourages me when I inevitably mess up – rather than feeling like a failure and giving up my goals altogether, I can take a deep breath, extend myself a little grace, and hit reset for the next day!”
WOW! Thanks, Heather! This spoke to me! I had surgery, and have been “resting” for the past couple of weeks–and of course, being the perfectionistic, feel like I haven’t accomplished anything! (Satan static instead of grace) So then a whole cycle of recriminations and feeling like a failure etc. has just gotten me blue…. (despite me KNOWING that there is no condemnation in Christ and that I’m His daughter and covered by grace and that He remembers that I’m dust and doesn’t EXPECT me to do anything else!).
Nevertheless, this was a comfort to me–24 hours….a reset and a fresh start!
Florine something-or-other who started Weight Watchers is from my area, so there are a ton of commercials on TV and radio. And she says it is not how many times you FAIL a diet but how many times you RESTART that count. I guess that is akin to the Monday phenomenon–to “just do it”.
So on that note….
Thanks again!
BTW, this is the first time I have ever posted on this site! 🙂
I have been “lurking” for several months!! This site has been such a blessing to me!!
Del Marie Riley says
Hi Cheryl. I like how you said, ” (Satan static instead of grace) So then a whole cycle of recriminations and feeling like a failure etc. has just gotten me blue…” I have been doing my best to recognize this when it begins, then I tell myself, “Nope, that’s Satan’s heart not mine. Satan, it’s not going to work this time. I caught you.” Then I’ll pray and thank Jesus for pointing it out to me. After that I feel like a load has been taken off my heart. Thanks for commenting today. I hope you continue to do so. You never know, your words may be just the thing someone else needs to hear. They truely touched me today.
Lisa says
You are right. I make goals throughout the year. I can’t just make them on January 1st…it is a continual process. I may decide my January goal is too big, so throughout the year I break it into more manageable pieces. Good to know I am not alone in this “almost” endeavor.
Beth Williams says
I try to make realistic new year’s goals & usually stick to them. I break my goals down into managable size pieces.
Some goals are to exercise regularly-like walking 5+ miles daily, read Bible daily (which I have done for past 3-4 years). eat healthier. One big goal I’ve had was to work hard on my temper. With God’s help, much prayer and hard work I’ve have tamed that ugly beast.
Try taking that goal & breaking it down to months, weeks, days, hrs, etc. What ever time frame works for you. You will find that all good goals are manageable/doable with God’s help!
Elizabeth Anne @seasonswithsoul says
I, too, loved the subtle Office Space reference via the title and stapler, but I loved the message even more. I do make positive changes in my life from time to time, but they almost never neatly coincide with Jan. 1. Like another commenter, I also have taken the One Word approach this year (Trust).
Martha says
Thank you for encouraging me. I found out two months ago that I was caught up in a cycle of eating all the wrong things so that even when I made my resolution about loosing weight I was still not eating right. I made the decision to ask God to help me eat right. Sometimes I fall off the wagon but most of the time I eat right.
Jane King says
This is my comment on your website and like the thought give up on perfect.
I procrastinate and have good intentions then get distracted, of doing something else.
I used to be a Mary Kay Consultant and we were taught to write six most important
things to do for today. I would get two or three things done and then carry the other three things to do the next day and add three. I am a painter in Watercolor, in Bible study and have some reading and answering a few questions, I have embroidery sewing machine with squares to work on. Etc. Etc. Right now most important is seeing the needs
for my husband who had hip surgery and terrible error of surgeons breaking his femur bone so strict orders to sit in wheel chair for six weeks so bone will heal and
if it does not, surgery. So suddenly Caregiver and caring for Him and keeping up his Courage. Happy Valentine day to you, Jane King
Diane says
A great reminder and just what I needed. I did have the Mondays and the Tuesdays but feel like I am more on track. I believe we always need a boost of what is really important. Thanks for the great blog and reminder!
melinda says
Many are the plans of a mans heart!
That is why I think I dont meet them. I want to take on too much and then get overwhelmed. Do not despise the days of, for me, tiny beginnings.