Photo courtesy of Viktor Mogilat on Unsplash
What is it about the hanging of a calendar representing twelve months of our future that makes us feel hopeful, as if ANYTHING might be possible?
Sadly, are you familiar with the studies of how quickly most people abandon their New Year resolutions?
According to U.S. News, approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February.
An article in Forbes says that just 8% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions.
That’s a pathetic portrait of 80-92% of us!
Maybe instead of the “I’m going to…” type resolutions (you know…the I’m going to lose 27 pounds in six months/I’m going to work out at the gym five nights a week/I’m going to pack my lunch instead of eating out), we can try something else.
There is a question posted over the entrance door to my church’s sanctuary. It reads: What do you seek?
Isn’t that a magnificent question? What do you seek?
Let’s look at the weight loss resolution. Do we want to lose the 27 pounds because we’re trying to avoid wearing Spanx at our high school reunion next summer? If instead, what if we seek to lose the extra pounds in order to be healthier long-term, so that we might stick around on earth for a longer term? (And perhaps be Spanx-free as a side benefit?)
What do I seek for 2018?
I seek to be a better friend to more people; to ask them important questions and actively listen to the answers and NOT dole out advice unless it’s requested.
I seek intuition to know when it’s enough to just sit in silence with someone.
I seek dedication to be the kind of teacher who is able to bring out the best in every student.
I seek wisdom to be the speaker with a message that changes lives.
I seek interesting projects and challenges and the courage to say no to the ones that are not an appropriate use of my time and talent.
I seek perseverance to complete my unfinished projects.
I seek a deeper focus on my spiritual life.
I seek intriguing and thought-provoking stories and topics for my tribe of faithful readers.
What do you seek?
I seek to have more patience, more wisdom, and more sleep.
I seek to be more like you!
I seek to walk in the way of Jesus all to the Glory of God!
If you seek to be more like me and I seek to be more like you, we’ll create something wonderful!
We seek, we hope, we desire, we dream, we wish, we long for, we want…
Is it human nature or a flaw?
I follow on Facebook a group devoted to the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh, where some interesting questions are dealt with in a zen fashion.
A member posted a query about wanting this and wanting that (serious stuff), asking for advice on how to get there. Of course, many people doled their own piece (i love the expression that you used, by the way), but one stood out. It said:
“Stop wanting.”
I think it fits your concept of “Resolve NOT to Make Resolutions.”
Conclusion: You are zen!
Your comments light up my life. Thank you!
love you Norma <3