What You'll Regret Next December 31st

Hi friend,

It's December 31st.

One year from now, you'll be sitting exactly where you are right now. Same date. Same moment of reflection.

The only question is: who will you be?

Will you be someone who actually changed? Or someone who made the same promises they made last year?

Here's the uncomfortable truth: research shows that only 9% of people who make New Year's resolutions actually keep them.

Let that sink in. 91% fail.

23% quit in the first week. 43% are done by the end of January. By February, 88% have abandoned their resolutions entirely.

So why are you about to do the same thing tomorrow that statistically almost never works?

The Resolution Trap

Tomorrow, millions of people will make grand promises to themselves.

"This year, I'm going to lose 30 pounds."
"This year, I'm starting that business."
"This year, I'm getting my life together."

And by January 19th - what researchers call "Quitter's Day" - most of them will have already given up.

The problem isn't you. The problem is resolutions themselves.

Here's why they fail:

They're based on who you are today, not who you need to become. You're setting goals for your future self while thinking like your current self. The person who can run a marathon isn't the person sitting on the couch making the resolution.

They're triggered by a date, not by readiness. You're not actually ready to change. You're just inspired by the calendar. That inspiration will last about as long as your hangover.

They're massive, vague, and overwhelming. "Get in shape" isn't a plan. "Build a business" isn't actionable. "Be better" means nothing. So you do nothing.

They rely on motivation, not systems. Motivation fades by January 3rd when you're back at work, exhausted, and life returns to normal.

The Real Question

Forget resolutions for a second.

Ask yourself: What will I regret if I don't change?

Not "What do I want to accomplish?" but "What will hurt to look back on?"

A year from today, what will you wish you had started?

That business idea you keep talking about?
That skill you keep meaning to learn?
That relationship you keep neglecting?
That health issue you keep ignoring?

In 365 days, you'll either be grateful you started, or you'll be making the same promises again.

What To Do Instead

Don't make resolutions tomorrow. Do this instead:

Pick ONE thing. Not five goals. Not a complete life overhaul. One change that matters. The person who tries to change everything changes nothing.

Start small. Don't commit to the gym 6 days a week. Commit to 10 minutes, 3 times a week. Build the habit first. Scale it later.

Make it specific. Not "get healthier." Not "make more money." Specific. Measurable. "Walk for 20 minutes every morning." "Save $500 a month."

Build a system, not a goal. Goals are what you want to achieve. Systems are what you do daily. Winners and losers have the same goals. The difference is the system.

Don't wait for January 1st. If you're serious about change, why wait? The calendar doesn't care about your transformation. Start today. Start tomorrow. But don't make it ceremonial. Make it real.

The Decision

Here's what I know about January 1st: it's just another day.

Nothing magical happens at midnight. Your brain doesn't reset. Your habits don't disappear. Your discipline doesn't suddenly appear.

The only thing that changes is the date.

Real change doesn't happen because of a date. It happens because of a decision.

And that decision can happen right now.

So here's my challenge to you:

Forget the resolution. Make a decision instead.

Pick one thing you're going to change. Not five. One.

Write it down. Make it specific. Build a system around it.

And then start.

Not January 1st. Not "next week." Not "when things calm down."

Now.

Because a year from now, you won't regret the things you tried. You'll regret the things you kept putting off.

You'll regret waiting for the "perfect" moment that never came.

You'll regret treating this like another resolution instead of a real commitment.

365 days from now, you'll either look back at this moment as when everything changed, or as just another New Year's Eve when you told yourself the same lie.

The choice is yours.

Until Next Week
Lorenc - Founder of Success Skill