Optimal Living Daily - Personal Development and Self-Improvement 3862: Stop Making Resolutions (and Just Start) by Jay Harrington of Life And Whim on Consistent Progress
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Jan 1, 2026 Jay Harrington, an author and personal development blogger at Life and Whim, challenges the idea of New Year’s resolutions. He argues that instead of setting goals, we should focus on taking courageous, imperfect actions. Drawing insights from the launch of Warby Parker, he emphasizes that discomfort is essential for growth. Harrington insists that the time to start is now, even if conditions aren't perfect, as the journey is about learning and perseverance through challenges.
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Discomfort Is The Hidden Cost Of Progress
- Achievement and growth are almost always accompanied by emotional discomfort and uncertainty.
- Jay Harrington says we avoid those feelings, which prevents real progress.
Dreaming Replaces Doing
- Resolutions let us enjoy the dream without doing the painful work.
- Jay Harrington notes that fantasizing becomes a substitute for action.
Warby Parker's Chaotic Launch
- Warby Parker launched an imperfect site before major press and saw sales explode despite chaos.
- The founders learned critical lessons from that calamitous start that fueled rapid growth.