Happy New Year!

Today we are going to be looking at the history behind New Year’s Resolutions. Although making new year’s resolution have been on the decline, many are still making them. What made people start to make resolutions at the beginning of a new year?

Well, this tradition dates back to the Babylonians who made affirmations to the gods and King as a way of expressing their loyalty.  The Romans carried off this tradition by making political affirmations and public sacrifices to the gods.  However, it wasn’t until recently that these affirmations and resolutions became more personal for more self-betterment.  This tradition reached western tradition in 1740, when Methodism began.  In this religion, people had a convent renewal service. In this service, people acknowledged their achievements from the last year and made new resolutions for the new year.  This is the point in which new year’s resolutions became more secular.

However, as stated earlier, new years resolutions are on the decline. This is possibly because so many resolutions are very difficult to achieve, as “falling in love,” and “Living Life to the Fullest.” are  on the top ten lists.  If we are intentional of becoming a better version of ourselves, then our resolutions should reflect that. That doesn’t mean we make the easiest resolutions possible, but make an effort to create S.M.A.R.T resolutions that we can surely follow and achieve.

Let’s revive New Year’s Resolutions, and make 2018 a year that is full of wonderful opportunities.

Alyssa