New Year’s Resolutions

Five thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions:
1. There are so many good habits we could implement but there are too many for anyone to do all of them well. (See my list in the thread below). So we should be gracious with ourselves and others.

Great article on New Year's resolutions that are likely to lead to happiness, from @arthurbrooks. He recommends forgiveness and gratitude:https://t.co/dnBNDg54n5
— Jonathan Haidt (@JonHaidt) January 1, 2021

2. The vast majority of our resolutions get drowned out by the noise of life. Life defies discipline and clarity. Life defies planning and organization.

3. As I see the struggles with alcohol and depression, and reports of suicide, and deaths from covid-19, I’m reminded that getting through everyday life—eating, working, relationships, cleaning up, functioning, adulting, surviving—is something to be grateful for.

4. Yet there is hope in the idea that we can change. And it is not false hope. Human beings have volition, agency. We can change. We can try something. And in doing so, we will at least learn something, even if it simply to be more sympathetic to others who try but fail.

5. The other good news is that for those who cannot conceive of taking on a new goal or resolution, the acute burden that they are currently overwhelmed with will likely pass or subside over time. May others rally around the hurting person in their time of need.

Some good habits below that I’m thinking about as others are:

Reading the Bible:
https://twitter.com/edstetzer/status/1345058397683638272?s=19,

Goal for 2021: Spend time with God every day. ✅ Make it happen with these Bible Plans! https://t.co/cEmwQid98M pic.twitter.com/79HqR9gonn
— YouVersion Bible App (@YouVersion) January 1, 2021

Spiritual health disciplines:
https://twitter.com/BethMooreLPM/status/1343943911102951425?s=19,
https://twitter.com/richvillodas/status/1345062961908486144?s=19

Journaling:

If I told you that you could do one thing that could grow you spiritually, emotionally, and relationally in 2021 – would you do it?https://t.co/2C7nFKTGpq
— Bob Roberts Jr. ن (@bobrobertsjr) December 31, 2020

Eating healthier, stopping smoking, exercising and sleeping more:
https://twitter.com/JerryBrewer/status/1343220740452040710?s=19,
https://twitter.com/jbouie/status/1344395252703129601?s=19,
https://twitter.com/ElieNYC/status/1344335701287067654?s=19,
https://twitter.com/CunninghamMPLS/status/1339979055081402369?s=19,
https://twitter.com/evandeneykel/status/1345103161862877184?s=19,
https://twitter.com/heathwcarter/status/1344384234484609024?s=19,

https://twitter.com/stenersonMN/status/1343600802573807616?s=19

Reading quality books:
https://twitter.com/flemingrut/status/1344431248069058560?s=19,
https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/562685585891262464?s=19

Writing more:
https://twitter.com/michellevanloon/status/1344262543976648704?s=19,
https://twitter.com/rachsyme/status/1345087982055944196?s=19,

I'd like to note something about the wonderful success of @HC_Richardson on Substack: It's not luck & it's not overnight. She works tremendously hard. And she studied composition very closely to become the writer she is.

I think we're all missing those very important points(1/5)
— Michael Socolow (@MichaelSocolow) December 29, 2020

Originally tweeted by Andy Rowell (@AndyRowell) on January 1, 2021.