In The Community
Data reveals that a substantial percentage of the population faces obstacles in their attempts to fulfill New Year's resolutions. The pressure to meet high expectations and unrealistic goals can frustrate success rather than propel it forward.
Some reasons include adopting extreme all-or-nothing behavior, lack of accountability, and setting immeasurable goals. Tackling these challenges involves cultivating a compassionate introspection within ourselves.
Questions like: What moments brought me happiness last year? Or, how can I cultivate my emotional well-being this year? These types of questions can guide this introspection and also remind you that a new year doesn’t necessarily have to mean a new you. You could find that you’re perfectly happy with the 2023 version of you, and one arbitrary date change doesn’t mean anything has to fundamentally change.
But for many others, this largely symbolic date change often serves as an opportunity to revisit this introspection and take action if and when you feel it’ll best serve you.
If you’re someone who feels like the start of the new year can kick-start some new habits, use the tips below to help guide your New Year’s resolutions.
But also remember that change can happen any day - not just on the eve of the new year:
Mindful Progress:
Make it a priority to anticipate challenges and recognize the gradual process of progress. Set realistic goals that are on your timeline and no one else’s. Setting unrealistic goals is a sure-fire way to set yourself up for inevitable failure. The key here is to be proactively mindful that progress is progress, whether fast or slow.
Proactive Approach:
Being proactive is an extension of being mindful. Staying intentional and embracing flexibility in your schedule will help you avoid comparing yourself to others. Set small, gradual goals to maintain a proactive and productive approach to the process. Doing this will help you avoid placing unnecessary and unrealistic expectations on yourself. We have enough to deal with when others place unreasonable expectations on us - there’s no reason to do it to yourself, too.
Progress Support:
Change is a gradual process that can become discouraging when it feels like we’re not moving forward. During times like these, it’s helpful to have someone who can add some additional encouragement and accountability. Consider recruiting a support partner who can add these elements when the inevitable challenging moments arise.
Journaling your emotions regarding progress, goals, and challenges can also offer valuable insights.
Self-Kindness Reset:
Be kind to yourself, stay flexible, and find joy in activities. If you miss your goals this month, take a quick breather and approach them with a fresh set of eyes next time. Redirect the focus from goals affecting your mental well-being to activities bringing genuine happiness.
As we enter the new year, mental health is a necessary element of our journey towards well-being. Whether you’re looking to start new habits, get rid of old ones, or continue on as-is, each step in self-care guides us toward a more balanced and resilient self.
- The Latina Struggle of Feeling Like a Fraud: Understanding Imposter Syndrome ›
- Unwrap Experiences: A Fresh Take on Gift-Giving ›
Every year on June 24, Latin American countries and communities would revel in the festivities of Dia de San Juan, commemorating the nativity of Saint John the Baptist. It's an ancient tradition inherited from Spain but thoroughly transformed and adapted. Among these traditions, the most famous and high-spirited was the act of water-throwing.
Source: El Diario de Xalapa
Children would fill their buckets, adults their pans, and some would dive into rivers, all to fetch the most precious element - water. Cities would erupt into laughter and squeals as everyone drenched each other in celebration. This ritual, infused with symbolism, represented the purification of the soul, cleansing, and renewal.
The festival was a visual spectacle, an emotional catharsis, and a communal bonding moment that brought communities together. It was not merely a celebration; it was a form of cultural expression.
As the 21st century progressed, this tradition began to evolve. Technological advancements and increasing urbanization made the ritual less about river water and more about man-made water balloons, squirt guns, and inflatable pools. While the form changed, the festival's spirit stayed the same, as the essence of Dia de San Juan was not the water itself but the joy, the unity, and the sense of belonging it brought.
Photo by Alexandr Podvalny on Unsplash
However, over time, the undercurrent of an imminent water crisis started to tinge the festivities with a shade of concern. The splashes that once symbolized abundance and life began to feel wasteful, even harmful. A paradox emerged: water, the giver of life, was becoming scarce, yet the ritualistic celebration of its abundance continued.
This incongruity couldn't last. As the water scarcity worsened, the water fights started to dwindle, replaced by an increasing sense of anxiety about the precious resource. The uncontrolled joy of the water-soaked celebrations began to dry up, even as the region's reservoirs did the same. The once-lively event was gradually toned down, then modified, and finally, ceased.
In the face of the escalating water shortage, communities started reconsidering their traditions. The celebrations evolved once again, this time with a focus on water conservation. Ritual baths were replaced by symbolic sprinkles and massive water fights with educational workshops about water conservation. Street carnivals and fiestas adapted to forgo water fights, and in certain cities, fines were even imposed on individuals caught wasting this invaluable resource.
Water, still central to the festivities, became a subject of reverence, a reminder of its fragility and the need to conserve it.
Photo by Dev Asangbam on Unsplash
The ending of the water-throwing tradition on Dia de San Juan paints a vivid picture of how environmental realities can impact cultural practices. It's a tale of adaptation, resilience, and the shifting dynamics between tradition and sustainability. While the lack of water fights is undoubtedly a loss for the cultural tapestry of Latino communities, it’s also an affirmation of the region's adaptability and commitment to environmental conservation.
Even as the water shortage continues to pose an existential threat to the region, the spirit of Dia de San Juan endures. But now, the day serves as a reminder of the vital role water plays in our lives and the urgency to protect it. It's a testament to the fluid nature of culture, constantly evolving, always flowing, much like the water that once drenched the joyful participants of Dia de San Juan.
