When a new year begins, the common question you’ll hear is, “What are your New Year’s resolutions?” or “What are you excited for or expect to happen in the new year?”

There are some that are fully determined to write a list and to check that list multiple times to make sure it perfectly meets their goals. They might decide to work out more, or eat healthier, or do something they’ve always dreamed of.There are others that don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions because they think that they are easily broken. They think that it is a waste of time because they either had negative results in the past or have never tried them for fear of failing.

I would say I’m somewhere in the middle. I don’t write out a long list of what I want in the new year, but I do focus on one specific intention. I am constantly doubting myself and putting more pressure on myself than I need to. In 2018, I want to worry less and trust more.

In doing this, I expect to be a better person and to achieve my long term and short term goals that I have always had on my mind. They might not happen this year or next year. I’m not giving myself strict deadlines. What I am doing is focusing on one set purpose and not on any specific goal.

When I tell myself that I need to do this, that and the third, I get overwhelmed and frustrated that everything isn’t falling in line with some inconceivable timeline.

In the past, I wrote out a list of long term and short term goals and nearly gave myself a heart attack because I was nowhere near where I wanted to be. But no one was telling me that I needed to do this or that at a certain time. It was only myself. Because we are our truly our worst critics.

In striving to worry less and trust more, I am focusing on reading my Bible and talking to God. Because for me, that is where my trust comes from. That is where my strength lies.

So why am I saying all of this? There was a moment in time where I didn’t think that New Year’s resolutions could amount to anything great and that everyone would relapse eventually anyways. However, I have found a new meaning in New Year’s resolutions, and so can you.

-Jas