The turning of the calendar is more than just a date—it’s a sacred invitation. For Christians, it is a reminder that “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). For Buddhists, it echoes the truth that each moment is fresh, an opportunity to awaken. And for those who walk the path of Zen, it is the recognition that the divine and the mindful are woven together in every breath.
Yet, as many of us know, resolutions are easy to make and hard to keep. Why? Because change is not simply about willpower—it’s about wisdom, awareness, and grace.
Why Change Feels So Hard
We often think failure comes from weak willpower. But habits are held in place by many forces—social influences, emotional triggers, environments, and routines. Imagine five people holding a door shut; it’s not your strength that’s lacking, it’s the resistance you’re facing.
Christianity reminds us that we are not meant to carry burdens alone: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Buddhism teaches that craving and attachment reinforce suffering. Zen calls us to see the interconnected web of influences that shape us.
Step One: Know Thyself
Both Scripture and the Dharma emphasize self-examination. Jesus asked us to “remove the plank from our own eye” before judging others. The Buddha urged us to observe the mind with clarity. The Zentheist path encourages us to become scientists of our own soul.
Identify your unique challenges:
– Certain times of day
– Certain people or places
– Emotional states like stress or loneliness
Awareness is the first step toward freedom.
Step Two: Create an Action Plan
Once you know your challenges, design a plan. Think of it as your spiritual rule of life: a set of practices to guide you when temptation arises.
- Willpower + Grace: Motivate yourself with a vision of renewal. Christians may visualize the health needed to serve others. Buddhists may reflect on compassion for all beings. Zentheists may see the divine spark within themselves.
- Skill Power: Learn the “how.” If stress makes you overeat, practice meditation, or mindful breathing instead. If TV leads to mindless snacking, cultivate mindful eating.
- Community Support: Surround yourself with encouragers. The Church, the Sangha, or a circle of spiritual friends can strengthen your resolve.
- Environment: Engineer your surroundings. Remove temptations, add reminders of your higher calling, and replace harmful habits with life-giving ones.
Step Three: Embrace Failure as Teacher
Here’s the paradox: your plan will fail. And that’s okay. Failure is not defeat—it’s revelation. Each stumble teaches you more about yourself.
Christianity calls this sanctification: the ongoing process of being refined. Buddhism calls it practice: falling and returning to the path. Zen calls it experiment: learning through the dance of spirit and matter.
As the book Change Anything says, “When it comes to creating lasting change, failure is the rule, not the exception.”
A New Year, A New Creation
This New Year’s Day, don’t just make a resolution—make a covenant with yourself and with the divine. Pick one habit. Study it. Notice the forces that bind you. Then design a plan that combines:
- Personal awareness
- Spiritual strength
- Social support
- Environmental design
Habits are chains, but chains can be broken. With Christ’s renewal, the Buddha’s mindfulness, and the Zentheist’s harmony, you can cut the strings that bind you and step into freedom.
This is the first day of the rest of your life. Step into it with courage, wisdom, and faith.
Dr. Jay Forrest explores rational spirituality, meditation, and timeless wisdom—from philosophy and psychology to Buddhism, Daoism, Stoicism, and mysticism—offering a clear, open‑minded path for the spiritual‑but‑not‑religious.