A New Year’s Resolution You Should Keep

Let’s take an inventory on how you usually feel the morning of January 1st. Most of us may feel sluggish, tired, and maybe even a little regretful of how late we were up the night before. I usually experience a sudden feeling of bleakness when all the holiday decorations are stripped down and usual schedules are resumed. To add to the winter dreariness, I may be thinking of which things I need to improve upon this year. I’m forming my new year’s resolutions, which are usually based on things I wish I had done better the previous year. The list can include things like eating better after all the holiday treats, waking up earlier to ensure a smoother morning, or being more mindful of my budget.

Goal setting is important, but this year I plan to add another kind of resolution to the list. What if I begin 2020 with gratitude? It may sound intuitive, but gratitude doesn’t always come naturally to me. Rather than starting the new year (and the new decade) feeling downtrodden, what if I choose to be more mindful of all the amazing things currently in my life? What if I make a list of all of my unique attributes instead of focusing on all the things that I am not?

I plan to start this January 1st with gratitude – gratitude for everything that I am and all the gifts around me. I resolve to build upon and improve the good.

Make a gratitude list and share how it makes you feel. January 1st may feel a little more bright.