Why do a lot of New Year’s resolutions fail after a month or less?
I try to live by a new behavior that I’m not used to. The new behavior is an outside catalyst. I push forward. I try very hard. All of that pushing and trying exhausts me. So, I stop. And, I will typically go back to my equilibrium state even after I’ve spent a while working hard to make progress.
An equilibrium state is when something returns to its original state when not acted upon. I go back to where I was on December 31st. Stuck in my problem.
The answer is that I need a new equilibrium state before I begin. New wine cannot be put into old wineskins (Mark 2:22). I need to renew my mind and heart first by reading, learning, and applying God’s Word to my life. It’s always good to ground my equilibrium state in the Truth. Then, my inner thoughts and ways are able to be changed by God’s Spirit.
Then, when I work to make a change, I am doing it from a new identity or starting point. A new equilibrium state.
So, when the catalyst of hard work eventually slows down, I will return to my new original state. I won’t totally reverse the progress I have made. I will only need to take a rest and a deep breath. And then, I can get back to making permanent changes with the Spirit’s help to keep me moving forward.