Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! As we embark on a new year filled with hope and aspirations, many of us have set our New Year’s resolutions. However, it’s no secret that these resolutions often fizzle out before February arrives. In this edition, we’ll explore why New Year’s resolutions tend to fail and how we can leverage the wisdom of Jungian psychology to make them succeed.
The Ill-Fated New Year’s Resolution Phenomenon
Year after year, countless individuals set ambitious New Year’s resolutions with the best of intentions. From losing weight and adopting healthier habits to pursuing career goals or nurturing relationships, we embark on these resolutions full of enthusiasm. However, the statistics reveal a stark truth: roughly 80% of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned by mid-February.
Understanding the Psychology Behind Resolutions
To address this issue, it’s crucial to delve into the psychology behind resolutions. Carl Jung, proposed the idea of the “shadow self.” This concept posits that we all have an unconscious part of ourselves filled with unacknowledged desires, fears, and motivations. We put into our shadow parts of ourselves that we deem to be unacceptable. For instance, many girls are taught from an early age to be “nice” to be “amenable and non-confrontational,” to “blend in” and so grow up to become adept people pleasers, embracing this persona and putting into their shadow anything that they believe might make people displeased with them, or dislike them. In this case, traits like assertiveness, argumentativeness, confrontation and exuberance are suppressed into the shadow side.
This shadow side will have been creating patterns of behavior which, repeated through the years, become so automatic and entrenched that we’re not even aware of their existence. Jung has a great quotation: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call It fate.”
Unless we start the process of looking inward, when we set resolutions without acknowledging our inner complexities, we inadvertently set ourselves up for failure.
What this means in our example of the woman with the “people pleasing persona” is that if one of her New Year’s resolutions is to stand up for herself more in her personal relationships and her career and to negotiate better working conditions and a long overdue pay rise, she’s going to find that kind of self-advocacy both on a one-off and on a continued basis both deeply uncomfortable and hard to sustain. Sooner or later, and probably sooner, her old conditioned behavior will reassert itself and she will slide back into people pleasing.
However if she looks inward and begins to recognise the conditioned patterns of behavior, she can begin to understand where this discomfort comes from. And then she can begin to transcend it.
In that way she can keep those New Year’s resolutions going sustainably.
How can you apply Jungian psychology to your own New Year’s resolutions?
- Practice Self reflection:
When you are setting your New Year’s resolutions, take time to reflect on your inner world. Identify the desires, fears, and motivations that may influence your goals. Are you setting resolutions to please others or because they align with your true self? Look for patterns of historical behaviour and look for heightened emotions around certain behaviors. These emotions will tell you there’s a shadow side at play.
- Take steps to integrate your Shadow:
Jung believed in the integration of the shadow self as a path to personal growth. Instead of suppressing “undesirable” aspects of yourself, acknowledge them and work on incorporating them into your resolutions. This process can make your goals more authentic and sustainable.
3) Set Realistic Goals:
- Jungian psychology emphasizes balance and harmony within oneself. When setting resolutions, ensure they are attainable and in harmony with your overall life goals. Unrealistic goals are more likely to trigger resistance from your inner self.
4) Stay flexible:
Jungians understand that personal growth is an ongoing process. Be prepared to adapt your resolutions as you progress and your understanding of yourself deepens. Avoid rigid, all-or-nothing thinking, which can lead to frustration and abandonment of resolutions.
- 5) Seek Support and Guidance:
- Jungian therapy encourages individuals to seek the guidance of professionals who can help them navigate their inner world. Consider enlisting the support of a therapist or counselor to work through any psychological barriers that may hinder your resolution success.
If you would like to explore this with me get in touch here to book your free half hour “Unlocking Your Inner Abundance” call.
Conclusion
Incorporating Jungian psychology into our approach to New Year’s resolutions offers a promising path to success. By fostering self-awareness, embracing our shadow selves, and setting authentic and achievable goals, we can move beyond the annual cycle of resolution failure.
This year, as you embark on your journey towards self-improvement, remember that success is not solely about willpower and determination. It’s about understanding and embracing your inner self. By doing so, you can unlock the transformative power of New Year’s resolutions and pave the way for lasting change in your life.
Let this year be the one where you not only set resolutions but also embark on a profound journey of self-discovery and growth. Happy New Year, and may your resolutions thrive with the wisdom of Jungian psychology guiding the way!
Contact me directly here with any questions, or to book your free half hour ““Unlocking Your Inner Abundance” call.
Leave a Reply