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New Years Resolution Essay

The essay discusses the author's New Year’s resolution to maintain a daily journaling habit aimed at improving mental clarity and reducing stress. However, the initial excitement turned into stress due to perfectionism and societal pressure, leading to feelings of guilt when missing days. Ultimately, the author adjusted their goal to journaling three times a week, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and flexibility in personal growth.

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matidaberek4
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65 views1 page

New Years Resolution Essay

The essay discusses the author's New Year’s resolution to maintain a daily journaling habit aimed at improving mental clarity and reducing stress. However, the initial excitement turned into stress due to perfectionism and societal pressure, leading to feelings of guilt when missing days. Ultimately, the author adjusted their goal to journaling three times a week, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and flexibility in personal growth.

Uploaded by

matidaberek4
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

New Year’s Resolution Essay

Description of the Resolution


At the beginning of the year, I set a New Year’s resolution to maintain a daily journaling
habit. Inspired by research and personal stories about the benefits of journaling, my goal
was to improve my mental clarity, cultivate mindfulness, and reduce stress. I envisioned
this habit helping me process emotions better and track personal growth throughout the
year. With high hopes and strong determination, I bought a notebook and committed to
writing in it every evening before bed.

Experience of Stress
However, the excitement of starting this new habit was soon overshadowed by unexpected
stress. Life became busier than anticipated, and on some days, I found myself too tired to
write. Each skipped day led to feelings of guilt and self-doubt. As the article explains,
perfectionism often plays a significant role in creating unnecessary stress when resolutions
are approached rigidly. I began comparing myself to others who seemed to accomplish their
goals effortlessly, which only heightened my anxiety.

Societal pressure to maintain perfect consistency and a fear of failure added to the strain. I
started viewing journaling as a chore rather than a mindful activity, which was
counterproductive to the original purpose of my resolution. The article’s discussion about
the psychological toll of unrealistic expectations deeply resonated with my experience.
Instead of feeling fulfilled, I felt overwhelmed and stuck in a cycle of self-criticism.

Outcome and Reflection


Eventually, I realized the need to change my approach. I shifted my goal from daily
journaling to writing three times a week. This small adjustment instantly alleviated much of
the pressure I had placed on myself. By embracing flexibility and focusing on progress
rather than perfection, I was able to reconnect with the joy of the activity.

Through this experience, I learned valuable lessons about setting realistic and sustainable
goals. The article emphasizes the importance of a trauma-informed approach, which
involves being kind to oneself and allowing room for mistakes. I understood that self-
compassion and adaptability are essential when pursuing personal growth.

This resolution taught me not only to prioritize mental health over rigid expectations but
also to view setbacks as opportunities for learning rather than failures. Now, when setting
new goals, I focus on their deeper purpose and ensure they align with my current
circumstances. I’ve come to appreciate the process of growth over achieving perfection, a
perspective that has made my approach to resolutions far more fulfilling.

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