New Year's Resolution to do Good

The beginning of a new year can feel like a clean slate for most of us. In fact, that’s where the idea of a resolution comes from. We think about the things we want to change or fix about ourselves. Why not make this New Year’s resolution to do good?

Resolution vs. Manifest

Making a New Year’s resolution to do good is always a good idea, even if you just add it to a second and even third resolution. There has been a new trend with New Year’s that has been going around, the manifestation. Manifesting is not a new idea; it is as old as a book published in 2006 titled, The Secret.

The definition is not as straightforward as the book may have you think; it is pretty complicated; everyone has a different idea of what it means. But there is a common thread in all definitions, think positively, and positive things will come. So what’s the difference between manifesting and a New Year’s resolution?

Effort is the answer. Manifesting is basically the idea of hoping for the best. You can see where the holes lie pretty quickly in manifesting. Hoping for the best and getting it will lead you to believe it is the way to be. But hoping for the best and not getting it will quickly show you effort is necessary.

A New Year’s resolution is resolving to put in the work to get the good out of life. But we can take that idea even further, and you can call it whatever you’d like, a New Year’s resolution to do good or manifesting good by putting good out.

Putting Good Out

Making your New Year’s resolution to do good will help you put good out into the world. This doesn’t mean those good things will come to you, though some quotes may make you think otherwise. But the important thing is that you are being active in many different ways.

You’re being involved in your community, active for those in need, involved with your family and friends, and involved in the world around you. So how do you put good out into the world? Simple, do good. You can volunteer for helplines, at food pantries, donate goods to charitable organizations, or even just be a consciously better person to those around you, people you know and strangers alike.

There are some benefits to doing these things that have been studied and proven. Putting good out may bring good in as well.

Benefits of Doing Good

Have you ever been excited to give someone a gift? Have you have felt joy from cooking a meal for your family or friends? These are the things you can expect from volunteering and then some. Studies have shown that volunteering helps people gain confidence, make new friends, feel a part of the community, learn new skills, and more.

These things are all traits of a strong leader. People tone up their leadership skills when they volunteer. Those skills can help manifest or resolve to be better, do better and make the world around you better.