Connecting dots with The Idea Dude
December for me is a great time to take stock of what I managed to achieve during this year and then look at all the things that perhaps fell through the cracks or activities I could have managed better. New Year Resolutions for me aren’t radical changes but adjustments that I remind myself to make over time.
Resolving to succeed
Ben’s right about most of the resolutions we make each year. They never seem to last, fading as fast as the winter sun. Most resolutions are about ourselves and how we think we should be or could be better. I think we often look at ourselves and find the things we dislike the most. Then by uttering a few magic words wrapped in a bow called a New Year resolution, we hope they will go away. Of course they don’t.
Resolving to choose wisely
Choosing resolutions that have some hope of making a making difference to us must have all of the following ingredients.
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It must matter to us. It can’t be something copied from someone because it sounded good and altruistic.
It must be measurable. Anything that isn’t measurable in a tangible or meaningful has no hope of succeeding like starting a journey without knowing where it will end.
We must enjoy doing it. Motivation is generally fueled by the emotion that something we do makes us feel so good, we want to keep doing it.
The changes we make should impact those around us. Because our momentum is increased by their feedback and their well-being.
Resolving to change positively
What is a resolution really but a commitment to change oneself and all around us in a positive way. Liz has the best advice about how to make positive changes stick. She’s right of course when she says, When you make a positive change that sticks, other positive things will happen too.
Resolving to be kinder to ourselves
Angela reminds us to be kinder to ourselves. What a wonderful idea. We do tend to beat ourselves up for not doing something or not doing enough of other things. At the end of the day, we are all human with frailties and failings. But we are also endowed with character that helps we look forward to just being a little better than the day before.
Being kinder to ourselves makes us kinder to others too!
This is my wish for all of us.
May the dots be with you!
Vernon,
I think you’ve made some great points in this post, and I really wanted to comment the last time I visited, but I was feeling so bad due to a terrible cold and just couldn’t find the energy to respond! Now, I’m feeling considerably better (though by no means totally well), so thought I’d leave a few words.
I think your four main points are excellent, and they are goals we would all do well to determine, in advance, to set our minds to in 2008: succeeding, choosing wisely, changing positively, and (throughout the entire process) being kinder to ourselves.
The last one is very important–particularly since it can tend to fall by the wayside while we’re busy concentrating on the first three!
Your point is also well taken about resolving to change gradually over time, rather than attempting immediate, radical change, which often simply leads to disappointment.
Hopefully many will be wise enough to follow your insightful advice in 2008 and beyond! Wishing you the best of everything in the New Year!
Blessings,
Jeanne
Hi Jeanne, feel better soon! Thanks for taking the time (and energy to comment!).
Have an awesome 2008, looking forward to continuing to read your blog and finding you in the comments too!
Vern