How to actually follow through on your New Year's resolution

If you want it to actually work, here's what you have to do.

It’s that time of year: New Year’s resolutions. You’re about to be inundated with posts, sales, and emails about them. But before you do anything related to them, I need you to view the image below.

I came across this image recently on Instagram and it hit me as profound. I’ve been saving it for today, because I believe it encapsulates the most important question you need to ask yourself when it comes to New Year’s resolutions.

Here’s the question:

Do you simply want change, or are you willing to change yourself?

Think about that. This time of year, everyone wants change. They want the weight loss, they want the money, they want the time back. They want the health, they want the better marriage, they want to be more present. They want the change.

But how many are willing to actually change themselves in order to get the outcome they desire?

I know I’m guilty of that. I can’t tell you how many times over the years in moments of clarity I told myself, “I resolve to drink less.” I truly did want that. I knew how much better it would be for me and my family. But in the end, I didn’t really want to do what it took to get that outcome: mainly, actually drinking less!

Ironic, right.

And yet how many of us do that? We want the weight loss, but we don’t want to eat less or eat better or exercise. We want more money in our bank account, but we don’t want to spend less. We want to be less distracted, but we don’t want to give up phone time.

Everyone wants change. I’ve never met a person that doesn’t realize things could be better; that they could be better. But the question is: Do they actually want to change themselves, which is actually what brings about the change they want?

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: I was only able to stop drinking when I stopped trying to stop drinking. (Read more here.) When I stopped just trying to bring about an outcome, and instead focused on changing myself, the drinking naturally stopped. When I pursued Jesus and let him change me from the inside out, the outside habits I was trying to get rid of naturally took care of themselves.

“OK, Jon, but what does that have to do with my resolution of losing weight?”

Great question. If you want to change your weight this year, the science is clear: To lose weight and keep it off, you have to change your relationship with food. That’s not simply an external behavior modification. It’s an internal shift that has external consequences.

That’s just one example. There are countless others.

Friend, this New Year’s then don’t make a resolution that’s just about wanting a change. It won’t last. You know that because you’ve tried it before. Instead, if you actually want to follow through on your New Year’s resolution, you need to actually put in the work to change yourself first. Emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Do that and I guarantee you’ll get the outcome you’re looking for. You can’t not, because it will be a natural byproduct of the internal work.

Trust me, I know.