Chances are by now you know that most New Year’s Resolutions aren’t worth the cost of that fancy journal you wrote them in. Some estimates put the failure rate at over 80%. Despite such shockingly crappy outcomes, many of us continue to sign up for January gym memberships, weight loss and smoking cessation programs, and, dare I say it, online mindfulness courses. I get it. I totally do. It’s a new year! A fresh start! A chance to shed our old skin and problematic habits and finally become the best versions of ourselves!
Researchers have identified a variety of reasons why it’s so hard to give up Facebook and eat more salads, as well as a ton of strategies for overcoming those barriers. Unfortunately, many of the December Do and Don’t Lists miss the big one, the game changer, and I’m not talking about the latest habit tracking app. I’m talking about self-compassion.
Dropping a resolution altogether just because you missed a day or two at the gym is kind of like dropping out of school because you didn’t get an A+ in geometry.
The thing is, you’re probably going to fall off the wagon. It’s…
