Dear Friend,
Our human brains are wired to love a temporal milestone. Millions of us use the occasion of a new year as a reset button, resolving to improve x, y, or z. And yet, studies show most of us will have abandoned even our best-intentioned goals as early as February.
So, over the past week, I found myself wondering what we can learn from science about setting resolutions that stick — both for us mortal individuals and the organizations to which we belong. Here’s what I learned:
- Research shows outcomes are greatly improved when our goals are realistic, positive, and approach-oriented (what will this add) instead of lofty, negative, or avoidance-oriented (what does this subtract). Social support, including feedback and accountability, also has significant positive effects on goal-achievement.
- While visualization is important in building new neural pathways, focusing on too distant a future enables us to procrastinate. Experts suggest breaking longer-term goals into more manageable “sub-goals” that mobilize us to act in the present and satiate our desire for instant gratification. We’re more likely to continue our efforts if we can see, feel, or otherwise experience their effects in the present.
- Since obstacles and setbacks are inevitable, we ought to plan for them, adapting and making contingency plans rather than allowing ourselves to be derailed. Similarly, we can maintain momentum by celebrating incremental progress instead of insisting on perfection or focusing entirely on outcomes.
And the science suggests that one of the primary pitfalls people encounter is not assigning a value-driven reason for their resolutions. Instead, we default to motivators that are too vague or superficial to sustain us through the inevitable challenges and loss of steam. Because while it’s good to embrace the high level of motivation we feel at the start of a new year, it’s equally important to recognize it will, in time, fade.
I think that’s especially critical right now, in this first week of 2025. From the policy agenda outlined in Project 2025 to our own analysis of state legislative trends in our forthcoming State of the Secular States report, we know the year ahead is going to be fraught with efforts to tear down the wall between church and state, to inject Christianity into public education, and to codify faith-based discrimination against women, LGBTQ folks, and our secular community.
It would be easier (and certainly more fun) to write an entirely optimistic message today, but besides being dishonest, it would not be the evidence-based, effective way to achieve our shared vision of a pluralistic society where atheists and nonreligious people can participate fully without discrimination or stigma, and all people are guaranteed equality.
We need to be clear-eyed about what’s at stake, where the Christian Nationalist ideology leads, and why our work at American Atheists matters.
Because the fact is, we will not win every battle this year. And we will all get tired, if we aren’t already. But, with your support, we will keep moving forward, guided by our values and united in our mission to protect civil rights, advance political equality, achieve social inclusion, and empower atheists and nonreligious people.
The evidence shows when we frame our resolutions in scientifically sound and personally meaningful ways, the changes we make can have lasting impacts. If you share our organization’s goals, I invite you to join us in reaching them by becoming a sustaining member of American Atheists with a monthly $10 donation.
Our team is resolved to carry on the fight for the absolute separation of church and state in 2025 and beyond because we are passionate about this work, and we truly believe in achieving the promise of religious freedom for all.
Resolutely,
Melina Cohen
Communications Director
American Atheists is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, nonprofit educational organization that relies on the support of members like you. Contributions are tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax ID Number is 74-2466507 and our Combined Federal Campaign number is 52217.
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