Consider Making Commitments In Addition to Resolutions This New Year (And Not Just Today!)

By Christine Murray

Did you know that over one-third of the people who set a New Year’s Resolution will have already given up on it by the end of January? It’s natural to start the year with high hopes for making positive changes in our lives, but it can be difficult to stick with changes after reality and the busy-ness of life set in. 

If you’re a survivor on the journey of recovering from past abuse, you may be starting 2024 with some intentions of making positive changes in your life to continue your healing and overcome the lingering effects of the abuse you experienced. There’s nothing wrong with making New Year’s Resolutions as a way to set goals related to these changes. I’ll confess that I personally love setting New Year’s Resolutions and have a few I’m excited about this year.

However, as this new year begins, I invite you to consider making commitments in addition to (or instead of) resolutions for 2024. In fact, you can make commitments at any point in the year, not just as we ring in the new year. 

Through The Source for Survivors, we intentionally use the term commitments in our Pathways for Supporting Survivors Model, and there are six commitments each in both the Pathway for Survivors and the Pathway for Community Supports. These are: (1) being intentional, (2) prioritizing safety, (3) taking a long-range view, (4) making steps forward, (5) reflecting, and (6) paying it forward, although this last commitment is always optional for survivors. 

Our Source for Survivors model focuses on commitments instead of other terms like steps or phases, because these six commitments are typically ongoing and don’t happen in a rigid, prescribed order. 

Also, although there are similarities in the meanings of the terms commitment and resolution, the Cambridge Dictionary offers a glimpse into the nuanced differences between these terms:

• The most relevant definition of a resolution as it applies to the New Year is “a promise to yourself to do or to not do something.”
• The most relevant definitions of commitment to our Pathways Model are “the fact of being willing to give your time and energy to something” and “a promise to give yourself, your money, your time, etc., to support or buy something.”

With these definitions in mind, a commitment takes a resolution a step further from making a decision or promise to make a change (resolution) to actually devoting time, energy, and perhaps other resources to carrying out that change (commitment). 

Making a commitment doesn’t have to cost a lot of (or any) money, and in fact the Commitments in the Pathways Model could all, in theory, be made without any direct financial costs. (Of course, financial resources can increase options and availability for some resources, services, and supports, such as purchasing relevant books or journals, paying for services like counseling or financial advising, or buying self-care experiences.) 

As we step into the possibilities of 2024, let's not only reflect on the changes we wish to make, but also embrace the commitments that align with our personal journey of healing. Take a moment to explore the Commitments in the Pathway for Survivors and consider whether any or all of the six Commitments resonate with you right now.

Your healing journey is unique and ongoing, and these Commitments offer a framework for considering your next phases of growth. Whether it's January 1st or any other day of the year, every moment is an opportunity for new levels of commitment to your well-being and healing. Remember that your unique healing journey is your own, so you always can make the best decisions for yourself every step of the way. 

Here's to a new year filled with intentional commitments, continued healing, and an unwavering belief in your ability to shape your unique path!