Embrace Small Wins: Rethinking New Year Resolutions

Welcome back, my valued listeners, to another episode of Living in Your Power. I'm your host, Marleen Greenleaf, and I am thrilled to kick off season 3 with all of you. So happy New Year! As I sit here looking out at the snow falling gently, I'm reminded of how the new year feels— clean, fresh, full of potential, just like a pristine blanket of snow. But let's be real, snow can also be slippery, and if we're not careful, it's easy to lose our footing. And isn't that exactly what happens with New Year's resolutions? Today, we're diving into where we are with those resolutions. Are we crushing them? Have we fallen off the wagon already? Or are we questioning whether we should have made them in the first place? We'll explore how to stay on task, when to pivot, and whether we should ditch resolutions altogether in favor of small, actionable goals. So let's get into it. So here we are, a few days into January, and let me ask you something. How are your resolutions going? Take a moment to reflect. Are you still working on them? Maybe you've been consistent, and if so, I want to applaud you. That's no small feat. But if you've already fallen off track, I want you to know that you're not alone. Studies show that most resolutions are abandoned by mid-January. Why is that? Well, for starters, resolutions often come with this pressure to completely reinvent ourselves overnight. I mean, we go big and say, look, I'll lose 50 pounds, or I'll save $10,000. And while ambition is great, those big goals can feel overwhelming without a solid plan. Let me share a quick story. A few years ago, I resolved to wake up at I set an alarm for 5 AM every day to work out. And for 2 weeks, I crushed it! But then life happened. I got busy, I got tired, and before I knew it, I was hitting that snooze button over and over again. But instead of beating myself up, I decided to focus on smaller changes. I started by waking up just 15 minutes earlier than usual and doing a quick stretch. And that small shift made a big difference because now this is not a resolution. This is part of my daily regime. I wake up and I go for a jog for a minimum of 3 miles. And I do this consistently, but with weather like this, because it's snowing today, obviously I'm not doing it. So I'm doing it, but I do it indoors. So this brings me to my next point. Are resolutions really the best way to create lasting change? Maybe not. Instead of resolutions, why don't we consider setting small, actionable goals? For example, if your resolution was to eat healthier, break it down into manageable steps. Start with one healthy meal a day, or add more veggies to your plate, or swap soda for water once a day. And these small, consistent actions lead to sustainable change. Here's another idea: choose a theme for your year. This could be a word or phrase that guides your decisions. Last year, my theme was peace. And every time I faced a choice, I asked myself, will this bring me peace? This year, my theme is empowerment and resilience. And think about what theme resonates with you and let it guide you. Now let's talk about staying the course. If you're on track with your goals, that's amazing. But for those of us who stumble, Let's regroup and refocus. Here are a few tips to help you stay on task. Let's start with habit stacking. I want you to attach your new habit to an existing one. For example, if you're trying to journal daily, do it right after brushing your teeth. Set a goal where we habit stacking. That's that's what it does. It's like you have to attach it. To a new— to an existing habit so that you can stay consistent. Next is find an accountability partner. Share your goals with someone who will encourage you and will check in regularly. Accountably— account— I'm losing my train of thought, my words here. Accountability partners will help you and they will encourage you and they can check in regularly and you can do the same for that person also. And finally, I want you to celebrate your small wins. Every step forward is progress. Every step forward is progress, no matter how small it is. So treat yourself for reaching milestones, no matter how small they are. You deserve it. So celebrate your small wins. And most importantly, give yourself grace. Because life happens. Progress is more important than perfection. So before we wrap up today, let's come back to the snow. It is so beautiful outside. I wish you could see it. If you're in the Maryland DMV area, we were just pelted with some snow today, but it's so beautiful. I mean, and even with that, we know it piles up. And we have to decide what to do with it. Will we build a snowman, shovel a path, or let it melt? And similarly, the goals we set this year are only as impactful as the actions we take. So here's my challenge for you. I want you to think about one small actionable step you can take today towards your goal. Share it with me on social media using the hashtag #LivingInYourPower2025. And I'd love to cheer you on. Again, the hashtag is #LivingInYourPower2025. Share that one small actionable step you're taking today towards your goal, and I would be happy to cheer you on. Now, before I let you go, I want to share some exciting updates. Woohoo! First, I'm launching a brand new leadership newsletter on LinkedIn. It's all about practical tips and insights to help you lead with confidence and purpose. So make sure to follow me there so you don't miss out. Secondly, I'm starting a weekly prayer and motivation series on my social media platforms, and it's just a little something to inspire your week ahead. So look out for those every Tuesday morning. Or Monday, every Monday or Tuesday morning. It all depends. And finally, I'm thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of my Living in Your Power Collective membership. This is going to be a space where we dive deeper into empowerment, mindset shifts, and community support. So stay tuned. There's more details are coming, and I'm so excited for all that's ahead. And I can't wait to. Share this journey with you. I want to thank you for joining me today for the first episode of season 3 of Living in Your Power. And I want you to remember, whether you're staying the course or shifting your plan, the key is to keep moving forward. I want you to live boldly in your power today. And if it gets tough, I want you to remember to just Breathe. You still got the strength to rise. So until next time, dear listeners, stay safe, stay empowered, and I'll see you back here soon. Continue to live in your power.