New Year Resolutions

For years together, I have dutifully made resolutions every year which couldn't see the morning of February 1. Most of them were made in haste and forgotten with more haste. But, this year I decided that I will dispense with the ritual of resolution, because usually they don't serve the purpose. And this has freed me. I am able to do what I wish, rather trying to do something which would reform me, because for many years, I have tried to reform myself so that I can become a better human being. The resolutions I had made could sound like--getting up early every day, sleeping on time every day, reading the newspaper daily, or just jotting down my expenses everyday and it could be as simple as speaking truth under all circumstances.




What does a resolution mean?



It means that there is something lacking in your life which you are not ready to work at willingly, hence you need to give your self timeline to coax and coerce your self in doing it. Just think, if you are not motivated enough to do something, can a resolution motivate you to do it. And, that's the reason most resolutions do not have a long life.

If you ask me I am against this whole concept of reforming and improving one-self. What does this mean, that I am not good enough, and I got to do something, so that I become better. This eventually implies that you are not supporting your acts and are there is a discord between what you do and what your mind perceives, you should be doing. Ultimately, this is going to create confusion in your mind. From our childhood we have heard of stereotypes and we keep proliferating those. Who hasn't heard, " Be a good girl/boy and Santa/ Mom/ Dad/Grand parents will love you more/ get you more gifts." What does this imply? Life is a bargain where you do certain acts to gain approval, which means that you are coaxed into being good. And resolutions spell the same sentiment.



Rather, than making a resolution that you know you won't stick more than a month, it's important to say that I accept myself just the way I am. Say it many times and it's proven that you will choose the path that you have charted for yourself through resolutions. It's impossible to fail yourself, more so when you have reposed trust in yourself just the way you are. Try it, it always works.