What’s Your New Year’s Question?

We are all familiar with the New Year’s Resolution. And no matter our level of determination, we are probably also all familiar with the feeling of failure when we don’t follow through on the goals we’ve set out for ourselves. In fact, most studies show that only a week into the New Year, a full quarter of New Year’s Resolutions have been abandoned. And six months into the year, more than half have been abandoned.

So instead of creating a New Year’s Resolution, what if you created a New Year’s Question?

Questions can lead to greater curiosity and creativity, and therefore, greater continuity. Questions tend to be more fluid and adaptable to life’s circumstances and are therefore easier to stick with. For instance, some people make a resolution to go to the gym three times a week, which can feel stifling. What if, instead, you ask yourself on a daily basis, “What can I do today to make my body feel strong and healthy?” Maybe you’ll go to the gym. But maybe it’s a beautiful day out, and you opt for a jog or a walk in the park. Or perhaps you’re on vacation and you realize that the body surfing you did for hours in the afternoon was more exercise than you ever normally get in the gym.

Taking this example a step further, what if you’re sick? With a rigid resolution like going to the gym three times a week, any time you spend sick in bed will likely feel like it puts you behind schedule and needs to be made up. Or worse yet, you don’t meet your goal that week and decide to give up. But if your daily question is, “What can I do today to make my body feel strong and healthy?” then a very practical answer is that you should stay in bed so you can become well. Self-care becomes a supportive part of your new pattern for the year instead of something that takes you away from your goal.

Another great question is, “What can I do today to make my mind feel clear and stress free?” That simple question may prompt you to notice just a few things that you didn’t notice were causing you stress. Maybe there’s a pile of mail that can be easily opened and sorted. Similarly, you may notice that you could organize the one drawer in your bathroom that’s been making it hard to find things. It’s amazing how spending just a few minutes on little projects like these can help clear your mind for things that you’d rather focus on.

Questions tend to spark flexible and creative thinking; our minds are programmed to want to solve puzzles. Try out a New Year’s Question or three this year and see what new avenues appear in your life. What will your questions be? And how can we at Morgan Organizers help you reach your goals in 2019?