I’m going to get better grades. I’m going to spend more time with my family. I’m going to be kinder.

All are commendable goals to strive for, but are they achievable? As we transition into a new year, people take the chance to transform into a better version of themselves through resolutions.

But, for most, it seems like these may be empty promises, broken in a matter of days.

According to Business Insider, 80 percent of resolutions are broken by February. While the stats might shock others, I don’t think it’s surprising at all—in our society, resolutions are seen as tradition, not regulation.

Despite their reputation of being easily breakable and quickly forgotten, I think that they’re important. Not in a tradition loving way; instead, I think they hold hope that people need.

For a society so focused on body positivity and positive thinking, there is very little hopefulness following us into the new year. Whether it’s because of political turmoil or personal reasons, there seems to be a general trend of negativity.

It’s funny, really, when you’re with friends and they joke about wanting to die over how stressed they are. It’s relatable and it’s a current humor trend, but at some point, we have to stop and ask where the joke ends.

The negativity needs to be uprooted, and hope needs to be planted instead. That’s why, despite their flippant reputation, new year’s resolutions should be valued as a way to take a step away from the rampant depressing internet culture into an optimistic future.

2018 began on a Monday, followed that night with what is estimated to be the biggest and brightest supermoon of the year.

For people looking into the new year for inspiration or hope, this year has already started in a way that is invigorating: a completely blank slate at the beginning of a week, with the moon lighting the path to success.

Whether your resolution falls apart in a month or a day or it holds, it doesn’t matter. Make the goals and work towards them, even if you fail.

The outcome is less important than the effort that goes into it; try your best not to fall back into last year’s rhythm of pessimism. A new year should be just that: new, hopeful, bright. And it’s time we, as a society, started thinking that way.