“You can’t make a real commitment unless you accept that it is a choice that you make again, and again, and again”

— Keeping the Faith

The New Year gives us inspiration to break some bad habits, start some good ones and strive to be better versions of ourselves. All of these are fantastic goals. But I think we all know that New Year’s Resolutions have a tendency to fail. Let’s talk a bit about why that is and what we can do to avoid it.

Resolutions, by definition are supposed to be a “final solution.” I certainly have very rarely found “final solutions” in my life. I will do something for a while and it will work but eventually I need to adjust it or tweak it as life throws different things at me. But the nature of New Year’s Resolutions implies that we can wake up one day and completely change, so what happens when you aren’t perfect and you stumble? We will all eventually find ourselves “falling off of the wagon.” It is very difficult to change overnight. Instead it takes constant work and adjustment. What marks those who will succeed from those who will fail is how they deal with moments of weakness.

That is why I would call it Recommitting, instead of Resolving. One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie Keeping the Faith: “You can’t make a real commitment unless you accept that it is a choice that you make again, and again, and again.” I try to remember this quote for many areas of my life but particularly when it comes to relationships – my relationship to nutrition, to CrossFit and my movement practice, to my husband. This quote aptly summarizes how I would encourage you all to look at your goals for the next year. It is not a “final solution” it is a commitment, followed by consistent recommitment.

When you have a moment of weakness or a rough day, when you get busy or just feel lazy that does not mean all is lost. It just means that you need to recommit tomorrow. Wake up to a new day and a new commitment. The New Year is a great time to recommit to your goals, whatever they may be. But so is Monday or any day for that matter. When you recommit, instead of resolving, every day is New Year’s. Every day is an opportunity to work a little harder, strive a little farther and make a change.

What are you recommitting to right now?

– Caitlin Allday, RDN
Nutrition Coach

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