New Years Resolutions

January 6, 2023
Author: Hannah DeVivo

Peace be with you.

It’s a new year! As we head into 2023, let’s talk about resolutions, goals, and spiritual graces for the months to come.

Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions date back as far as 4,000 years ago with the Babylonians. They celebrated the start of a new year in Spring and promised things like obeying the King, repaying their debts, and so on. They believed that if they kept their promises they would be favored by the gods and if not, they would incur the gods' wrath.

These days, resolutions are more focused on things like dieting, saving money, working harder, and so forth. They are goals to enhance one’s physical and material well-being. The interesting thing about resolutions is that they rarely last. According to a 2022 study, 23% quit in the first week, just 36% make it past the first month. Only 9% of people successfully keep their New Year's resolutions. There are many reasons and factors as to why resolutions don’t work, but it seems that resolutions in general are too lofty. We become so excited and ambitious to make changes that we promise to do too much. When the reality and gravity of those promises set in, we become discouraged and give up.

Whether you set New Year’s resolutions or not, I want to invite you to ask yourself a few questions: How is my spiritual life? Are there any goals that I want to set for myself regarding my relationship with God? What are some small steps I can take towards these goals? Instead of focusing on our worldly lives and the things we can gain here, I encourage us all to focus on and strive for the spiritual goods we can attain in Heaven. As Jesus said “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” -Matthew 6:19-21

Spiritual Grace

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines grace as follows: "Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life". (Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC, #1996). Jesus taught us to ask God for the things that we need and want. He encouraged us to see Him as our father who loves us. Therefore, if there is a spiritual grace that we are longing for, we need only ask for it. In my blog post “Advent Check-In”, I talk about the graces of hope, faith, joy, and peace. These are just a few examples of the graces that we can ask God for.

Grace helps us in our journey to Heaven. It helps us to set our sights higher than the things of this world. When we get caught up in the traps of the enemy and overwhelmed with the weight of our own sin, it is grace that gently pulls us back towards our loving father. A wonderful way to receive grace is through the sacrament of Confession. Going to confession is a great way to start the new year, and also a wonderful addition to an updated routine.

Setting Reasonable Goals

It is extremely important that we set achievable goals for ourselves. To do this, we should start with some inner reflection. Take a good, long look at who we are as a child of God. What are our strengths? Weaknesses? Tendencies? Habits? If I want to increase my prayer life, it would be unreasonable to start from nothing and aim for 2 hours each day. If I want to spend more time in adoration, 1 hour a week may be too much. These goals should be as personalized as we are. They should be set in small increments so that we have time to become acclimated and are less likely to be devastated when we fall short.

It is also important to be kind to ourselves in this process. We should try not to compare ourselves to others or to what the ideal person is in our heads. Patience, love, and acceptance of ourselves will go a long way in ensuring that these new changes are lasting. When we fail, it is more beneficial to forgive and try again than it is to dwell on our failings and chastise ourselves over them.

God is already waiting for you. He is a God of love and mercy. He knows your shortcomings, fears, and struggles. He sees your sinfulness and loves you regardless. He sees the goodness in you. He sees your potential, your heart, and the makings for greatness. He has great plans for you. In this new year, let us strive to see ourselves the way He does and invite Him to do great works through us. You will be in my prayers. God bless you.

Before You Go

Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

Are there any spiritual goals that you are setting for yourself this year?

Did you learn anything new in this article?

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