New Year's resolutions - make the practice work.
Periodically, as humans in the twenty first century, it is a good practice to “take stock” and reflect on where we are at, where we’ve come from, and where we’d like to go.
I turned 79 on 12/25/24 having been born on Christmas day in 1945. It seems an auspicious birthday, the last in my 70s before I turn 80 if I get there and there is no reason at this time that I can’t think that I will.
Another reason that turning 79 is auspicious is that I have learned that the life expectancy for a Caucasian male in the US in 2022 according to the CDC (Center For Disease Control) is 74.8 years and so I am on borrowed time. I am living with gravy as Raymond Carver said in his poem. I think that every day is a gift that most men like me don’t get so out of gratitude for the gift I am given I should make good use of it.
Socrates said that an unexamined life is not worth living and the bumper sticker says that an unlived life is not worth examining. So wanting to live an examined life it is good to take stock and make plans.
Spiritually intelligent people know that they are called to become something greater than they are. They aspire to rise above their everyday self to their Higher Self where they become aware of their wholeness. Like the monk said to the hot dog vendor, “Make me one with everything.” And so it is good to practice CQI, Continuous Quality Improvement, and thus some of us make New Year’s resolutions to do better, to live better, to learn better, to love better in the coming year.
Having read some of the articles at this time of year that pop up like pop corn on the various media channels, I have picked up a few tips which I have practiced and know that they work at least for me. Here they are:
Keep your resolution small. Take your ideal goal and cut it in half.
Make it specific. The question is not what do you want, and what do you aspire to, but what will you actually do? Whatever it is, keep it brief, 5 minutes or under.
Set periodic dates and times to check your progress and adjust.
Share your intention with people who might care and listen to their feedback.
Plan a ceremony to recognize and acknowledge the achievement.
A motto for the coming year is “Coming more alive in 2025” 2025 is another year to become your better self that you were created to become. With the help and guidance of your Higher Power, whatever or whoever you conceive your Higher Power to be, you can be successful and this success will bring satisfaction, fulfillment, and peace.
Okay?
What do you think?