Have you made new year’s resolutions only to lapse on them and decide not to make anymore? New Year’s resolutions are making goals of ideals you would like to realize. It is good if these goals are remembered frequently that you may learn to discipline yourself towards the goal. If you think making new goals is futile, there are 3 good things about having New Year’s resolutions worth considering. Also, Ritmo’s teachers share with us their thoughts about resolutions and goals for the new year.
Why Are New Year’s Resolutions Good to Have?
The first good thing about having New Year’s resolution is learning to persevere. Perseverance or determination is a virtue to meet certain goals and in the process change old habits. Assuming your New Year’s Resolution is to replace old habits you do not find useful and healthy anymore.
We all know how hard it is to change habits. It does take willpower and discipline. So, having a New Year’s resolution in mind sharpens your determination and brings forth a sense of discipline in yourself.
The second good thing about having New Year’s Resolution is learning to focus or to concentrate. These days, our minds are scattered everywhere from Netflix to Facebook to Tik Tok, work, and many more things. When we keep remembering our goals for the new year, we are training our memory and reflecting on why we want to do these goals. These help us learn to focus on just a few thoughts related to our goals compared to being scattered in many thoughts from the media and others in social media channels.
The last good thing about acting on your New Year’s Resolutions is the confidence you gain in making your goals a reality. When you are able to change unhelpful habits, you gain a sense of confidence over the laziness and distractions that have a hold on so many of us. There also comes a sense of satisfaction that you can have mastery over your mind and achieve goals.
Our Team’s New Year’s Resolutions
Our team at Ritmo Music Studio made some new year’s resolutions for 2021 as well as what they learned in the past in goal setting.
Jun Jie
I hope to practice scales and classical piano at least 4 times a week. I intend to schedule these into the early part of the day on fulfilling these goals.
David
I don't believe in NY resolutions, which are often long-term goals set in the emotional heat of a social situation. Being fueled by the transient emotions of a temporary situation often leads to said goals failing when the situation no longer exists to create those emotions. However, I believe in long-term, sustainable goal setting, through self-reflection and an understanding of one's personal needs/wants and present capabilities.
Over the past few years, I've been working on: - accurately reading/transcribing/playing parts in a song acc to original, so that I can be a better musician for both co-workers, students, and my audience - improving my technique and stability, so that I can play more technically demanding songs more readily
- obtaining a more holistic understanding of commonly appreciated forms of music in different cultures/times around the world, so that I can better understand and connect to those who are part of my music.
These are my music-related goals, and every year since I've set them, I've failed to achieve any of them fully. But through failure, I've learned what works for me and what doesn't, and by continuing to work at these goals constantly, I will continue to grow and become a better musician constantly.
Aili
I’m generally skeptical of NY resolutions because time is arbitrary, albeit a useful social construct. When the excitement of a brand new year fades, the motivation behind setting a certain resolution becomes diluted too. I prefer adopting the stance that every day is a new start, why wait if you really want to work towards an objective? Goal setting can occur at any time, any day. If I fail to achieve a resolution, I can evaluate why and devise a way to either change strategies, or revise the objective to something more realistic and attainable.
Jennifer
I would like to exercise regularly, learn a new instrument and new hobbies. It includes upgrading myself with relevant skills in current times and to be kind towards myself by taking time off to wind down. To fulfill these goals, I need to schedule and put time aside to exercise and learn new skills. The key is to persevere and not to give up as every little step counts.
Maisie
While En Ning has never tried making a new year’s resolution, Maisie only has one resolution and that is to be present to whatever she is doing, feeling, and thinking. This is not a goal per se since goals are a future concept that lies somewhere ahead that seems unattainable. By being present, it is possible to act on what matters right now.
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