Don’t make New Year’s resolutions, make life resolutions

Don’t make New Year’s resolutions, make life resolutions

Every year, we all make New Year’s resolutions. We vow to go to the gym more, eat right, make more money, and do the things we should be doing already but aren’t. Us gym rats know that the gym is packed the first month of the year, but by the last week in January, not so much. By the second week in February, it’s just us die-hards that are in there again.
So why do we do that to ourselves? Why do we make these resolutions only to break them and then make ourselves feel bad? Nine years ago, I decided I wasn’t going to make any more resolutions. I was going to make life resolutions to do something to change who I was as a person inside.
These have been my life resolutions that have literally changed my life.
2014 was: Let go and let God
This meant I couldn’t control everything. I couldn’t figure out all of my problems, so if I wanted to change my life, I had to let go of control and give it to God. See, God kept giving me messages, but I thought I knew better. This was a game changer for me.
2015 was: Pray and let God worry
I remember while I was getting divorced, I was stressing so much that I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep and my hair was falling out. I even thought I was having a heart attack at one point. I couldn’t go on believing in God and keep stressing. It didn’t make sense, did I believe it or not? Do I have faith or not? So I chose to pray and let God worry, and that was the best decision I ever made.
2016 was: Be present in my purpose
I know I am here for a purpose. I know God gave me this gift of writing to be able to touch others with my words. So, in 2016, I chose to be present in that purpose and know that this is where I am supposed to be.
My bible verse has always been: Romans 8.28 
“God causes everything to happen for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” 
I have been present in this verse and in my life ever since.
2017 was: Be real to yourself
For me, it’s listening to that voice inside yourself. It’s feeling what makes you happy, trusting what God is telling you, and what is real. We often poo poo things in our minds. We know deep down what the message is, but we don’t want to listen.
I heard the messages, and I have acted quickly on them as I now trust God and my intuition. This was a hard one for me, and sometimes I reverted into my old ways, but since this resolution, I have been quicker to learn my lessons and move on.
2018: Knowing your self-worth.
This was also a hard one for me, as I’ve lost my self-worth a long time ago and hadn’t gotten it back. I used to let men use me. I’d run after men who aren’t worth my time. I’ve made excuses for bad behavior of people and given way too many chances to people who’ve hurt me.
I had to practice what I preached, the things I write about to my readers. I needed to show others how to treat me, with love and respect, and if not, then you’re outta here. I now know my self-worth, and it’s a wonderful feeling.
2019: To realize that I am a soldier.
I had to realize that God only gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers, and that’s me. Whether I want it or not, this is who he called me to be. This is so I can share my testimony with others. 
2020 was to be happy within myself.
It doesn’t matter what people say, whether they think it’s right or wrong, this is your life. You can be dead tomorrow, and I know this as I lost many loved ones suddenly, and so I know how short life can truly be. You need to do what makes you happy now. Don’t try to live your life pleasing others, because most times they will never be happy with themselves. I will do what makes me happy, as long as I am not hurting anyone. This is my life, and I will live it my way.
For 2021, my life resolution was
Do not lose heart
                                                    It is from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is”
2022, it was: Be happy 
Was about being happy with yourself. You can not make anyone else happy, but you can find the happiness within.
2023 was : Shit happens 
                                                    A lot of shit happened, and I’ve realized that’s just life.
Shit will happen, and life goes on, but we can’t let it bring us down or knock us out. There will be some great years, and there will be some really shitty years, but our attitude is the only thing we can change.
2024 life resolutions is: There is always room for improvement 
This year, I learned that I wasn’t over my PTSD. I allowed someone to push my buttons and bring me back to a place I thought I was done with. I learned that money or a job is not worth your peace of mind. And that you can always make a change to fix yourself, which I did by going back to therapy.
I know this life is only temporary, and through it all, I have not lost heart. Even when I couldn’t see what was coming at me, I held on to my faith, and I looked for the lessons in this craziness in the world. I was grateful for things even when the world seemed bleak.
See, you can not change, you cannot get this if you still will not let go. If you still do not have faith…it’s all on you. Can you get out of your own way to make things happen?
Once we let go of these things, once we let go of control, once we learn faith and we pray and let God worry, things will change. Once we are present in our purpose, once we are real with ourselves, once we own who we are called to be, once we are happy with ourselves and our life then everything we ever wanted, everything we ever lost, everything that was stolen from us, will be returned in abundance.
So today, my friends, I tell you that this is your year, you are the only one that can change things in your life. If you truly want them to change, you have to do the work and believe me, sometimes it’s not easy.
If I can do it, then you can, too. Change your life today…
Don’t make New Year’s resolutions, make life resolutions… start today.
“Be the change you want to see,”
@TreadmillTreats