“New Year’s Resolution?”
By Krystal Montgomery & Roland Flasch
Did you make a New Year’s Resolution this year? How is it going? Studies show that 80% of people who make resolutions have already quit by the second Friday of January! Why is that? Perhaps the resolution is too hard or too drastic a change, making it difficult to maintain. Or maybe we resolved to change too many things all at once.
This topic has been popping up in various ways over the past month. Our Great Adventure Youth Group kids talked about committing to prayer for just one minute a day. The catch is to take a minute from a busy or full moment of your day to pray on your knees. Ms. Schissel called it a “Heroic Minute”. The St. Josemaria Institute describes this practice as one that can lead to spiritual growth and eventually “Spiritual Victory”.
Our Welcome groups have also been talking about what it means to be a “Dynamic Catholic”. This past week we talked about change in its smallest, least threatening form is usually the most successful. The formation book talks about taking one small step… just one minute a day to have a conversation with God. Each week you could take one more small step… you will be amazed at the impact it will have on your life.
So even though we are past that second Friday in January when 80% of us abandon our resolutions, that doesn’t have to be the end of it all. Some plans need to be tweaked or adjusted to be successful. Sometimes we need to take small steps to get to that finish line instead of a giant leap. We need to ask ourselves the question: did you pray about it? Perhaps God is calling you to change or add one small thing. Each day is a new opportunity to begin again.