Every year on January 1, we eagerly embrace the excitement of New Year’s resolutions! Yet, it’s a startling fact that around 80% of these resolutions fizzle out within just a few weeks. If you’ve felt that disappointment, rest assured, you’re not alone. But this year, let’s change the narrative!
Think back to what motivated you in the past. Was it the promise of a new eating plan paired with daily exercise? Or a heartfelt desire to dive deeper into God’s Word, perhaps with the goal of reading through the Bible in a year? Yet, when you hit Leviticus, the ancient laws made you wonder if you’d bitten off more than you could chew.
Exercise? Absolutely! Bible reading goals? Even better! But what if this January, you take a different approach?
Establishing a new habit that lasts can indeed be a challenge. A 2009 study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology shows that forming a new habit takes anywhere from 18 to 254 days, with the average being 66 days. The variation was influenced not only by the complexity of the habit but also by the individual’s mindset.
Imagine if you could alter that daunting 80% failure rate of resolutions by simply shifting how you approach forming new habits.
Let’s take Bible reading, for instance. Maybe Bible reading is something you’ve struggled with in the past. Rather than overwhelming yourself with the goal of reading through 66 volumes of God’s revelation, what if you started with a manageable commitment? Picture setting a simple goal of dedicating just 10-15 minutes to Bible reading and study, following a specific Quiet Time plan.
Instead of aiming to conquer the entirety of the year, why not challenge yourself to maintain this daily habit for just 66 days? That would bring you to March 7.
Let’s break it down:
Previous plan: A new habit + 66 books + lasting for 365 days = High probability of failure.
New plan: A new habit + 10 minutes a day + a Quiet Time plan + lasting until March 7 = High probability of success.
Doesn’t that sound much more achievable? With a bit of accountability to boost your motivations, you’ll be well on your way to success.
Are you prepared to embrace the March 7 challenge? What aspects of your life are ripe for improvement and growth? Choose one or two areas, commit them to prayer, and follow the actionable steps outlined above. I’m confident that with this change in perspective, you will experience significant growth and great success!
Scott Foreman (The Ministry Dad) is a Vice President at Word of Life Fellowship. He and his wife, Rachel, are blessed with four boys and have the privilege of ministering to couples, parents, and teens in a number of different ministry settings. The views in this blog post are Scott’s personal thoughts and not necessarily the views of the youth ministry that employs Scott.