Ritual is the New Resolution
Molly Rushing, Advanced Clinical Fellow
The start of a new year is a well-worn cultural cue for reflection and goal-setting, and, of course, resolutions. We’ve likely all been a part of the New Year’s resolution pipeline at some point, identifying your one big goal, committing with enthusiasm, and hoping it sticks past February.
Research suggests that temporal changes, such as the first day of the week, a birthday, a physical move, or, yes, the start of a year, can spark motivation and follow through for creating new habits. Still, resolutions themselves rarely last: fewer than 10% make it through the year.
Recently, I have begun trading New Year’s Resolutions with an annual ritual. For me, this looks like asking myself a familiar set of questions each year to help me notice how my life is shaping and shifting over time. This process may reveal new habits I want to incorporate moving forward, but it feels more reflective and expansive than focusing on a single outcome.
If you’re interested in trading resolution for ritual, here are a few simple invitations to guide the process:
Begin with looking back
Instead of diving straight into what you want to change, pause to ask yourself some questions. These could look like:
When did I feel most joyful this year?
What drained me?
Who or what brought me back to life?
What surprised me about myself?
What did I learn about what I need?
Then, turn gently toward the future
Rather than forcing big-picture goals, try asking:
What do I want more of this year?
How do I want to feel on a Sunday night?
What do I hope to cultivate, explore, or soften?
What small changes might help me live in deeper alignment?
Choose a word, phrase, or theme to guide you
Some people choose a word or phrase for the year. Others might make a vision board or piece of expressive art that captures what they hope to embody. If you’re creatively inclined (or curious), grab pastels or paints and see what emerges.
Most of all: make it yours
A ritual can be as simple as a solitary journal process or something more ceremonial, incorporating symbolic practices or community. Your process might evolve every year, or stay the same. The point isn’t to do it perfectly. The point is to engage with your life in a way that feels meaningful to you. To mark time, to listen inward, and to move forward with intention.