Daily List: 6 New Year Resolution Questions

December 29, 2011  David Murray   3 comments

Gretchen Rubin has six questions to to help you frame your New You resolutions.

1. Ask: “What would make me happier?”

2. Ask: “What is a concrete action that would bring change?”

3. Ask: “Am I a ‘yes’ resolver or a ‘no’ resolver?”

4. Ask: “Am I starting small enough?”

5. Ask: “How am I going to hold myself accountable?”

6. Ask: “Are there any small, nagging issues weighing down my happiness?” 

Read her exposition here.

UPDATE FROM THE COMMENTS: As far as I know, Gretchen is not a Christian but I often think it’s helpful to see how non-Christians think and write. What are their priorities, motivations, aims, etc? It helps Christians reach them, and also helps Christian crystalize and clarify their own priorities, etc. They also have grains of helpful insights scattered here and there.

  • http://goggle Kat

    Although I don’t generally make resolutions at the beginning of a New Year, if I did I don’t think my first question would be about my happiness. Every year I pray that I will grow in my faith and my reliance on Him. If I’ve made progress that makes me happy and I really only find happiness, well let’s say contentment, when I do fully rely on Him in the day to day. I am content with where I am and what is going on only because I know that God is God and I am not and I’m grateful that He has let me be apart of it.

  • http://headhearthand.org/blog/ David Murray

    I agree with you Kat. As far as I know, Gretchen is not a Christian but I often think it’s helpful to see how non-Christians think and write. What are their priorities, motivations, aims, etc? It helps Christians reach them, and also helps Christian crystalize their own priorities, etc. They also have grains of helpful truth scattered here and there.

  • Aubrey Metcalf

    I begin every day asking my students
    “Is every body happy?”
    When one eventually asks
    “What do you mean by ‘happy’?”
    I then explain that happy is the pursuit of virtue
    which leads to conversation regarding same.
    So, maybe we (christians) should begin by asking
    “what do you mean by ….?”