Every year around the world, most of us participate in the same New Year’s ritual…not of celebrating, dancing, drinking or being with loved ones. It’s not about reflecting on our past or even being grateful for what we have in our lives. This New Year’s tradition is simply the ritual of making a resolution to change, a promise to ourselves to do something new or different. Whether we are pledging to improve our finances, our relationships, our appearance, or our employment, what we all share is one common desire – to make this year better than our last. Maybe this is an illusion. Each January, roughly one in three Canadians resolve to better themselves in some way. A much smaller percentage of people actually make good on those resolutions. While about 75% of people stick to their goals for at least a week, less than half (46%) are still on target six months later, according to many studies over the years.
By definition, a New Year’s resolution is a tradition in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice, such as opening doors for people beginning from New Year’s Day.
A Resolve for Every Morning of the New Year – from a calendar by Bishop John H. Vincent. “I will this day live a simple sincere and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity and self-seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity and habit of holy silence, exercising economy in expenditure, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust and a child-like trust in God.”
It’s hard to keep up the enthusiasm of keeping your promise, month after month, but it’s not impossible. Whether you choose to promise to: Release weight / Stay in touch / Stop smoking / Save money / Manage your stress / Volunteer / Go back to school / Drink more water / Get more sleep / Travel… I invite you to commit, to challenge yourself and to join me in creating the best year of your life. As Debbie Ford, said it, in summary, we need to Dream It, Plan It, and Live It. Here’s to your mind, body, and spirit!! As a friend said to me, the key to your success is “accepting what life presents to you in this moment, not being in resistance to it or attempting to control it.”
Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul – the blueprints of your ultimate accomplishments. – Napolean Hill
I leave you with a wish for this coming year, and even if there is one little message that you take away, I wish that for you:
Comfort on difficult days… smile when sadness intrudes… rainbows to follow the clouds… laughter to kiss your lips… sunsets to warm your heart… hugs when spirits sag… beauty for your eyes to see… friendships to brighten your being… faith so that you can believe… confidence for when you doubt… courage to know yourself… patience to accept the truth… love to complete your life.
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