Resolve Daily - Not Just Once a Year...

Ok, so today I was reflecting on my New Year's resolutions from this past year, and the year before that, and dare I say, the year before that. I was thinking about what had stayed the same, what had changed and how much closer I was today to actualizing my dreams than 1, 2 or 3 years ago. I started wondering about the benefits of making such resolutions in the first place, and wondered what do other people resolve and how good a job do most people do in keeping those resolutions.

I think it's probably fair - and not too extremely cynical - to speculate that most people repeat some of the same resolutions year after year, but I think it's not the unfulfilled resolutions that we should focus on. Rather, it's the ones fulfilled. For every 5 lost dreams or unfulfilled wishes, resolve each day to make one goal a reality. Yes, I said each day. Not just once a year. Not that New Year's resolutions are useless or superfluous; quite the contrary. I think taking stock of your life each year is a worthwhile and productive tradition. It's like setting aside a specific place and time to work or eat or think or play or pray. It gives some form to your abstractions. And besides all that philosophical gunk, it's just plain fun to dream!

But, let's face it, the hard work of living purposefully comes with the resolutions we form each day and each minute, with every choice we make and every turn we take. These daily resolutions are what shape the New Year's resolutions of the future.

Not too surprisingly, 4 out of the top 10 New Year's resolutions people make according to a recent poll involve health and wellness: "Fit in fitness", Tame the Bulge", "Quit Smoking", "Quit Drinking." The remaining resolutions focused on mental and emotional well being issues. So, overall, taken as a package, most of us, it seems, are striving to improve our whole being wellness. To transform those goals from dream to reality, it's like that baby learning to walk - one step at a time. Falling down doesn't mean we should stay down; it means, get up and try again and this time your balance may just be that much improved. "Two steps forward, one step back" is a cliche because it's so true.

This may be disappointing news for some since we seem to be an "instant" society. We want it all and we want it now.  But your dreams, your goals, your life aren't realized by magic; they are realized by your choices, your work, your sweat and your courage.

So take stock of your lives, dear friends (and self!), and keep taking those baby steps daily toward those goals you have set for yourself. Come December 31st, let's vow to have to dream up some NEW ideas and aspirations -- for the old ones have already been realized!
http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm 

QUOTE of the DAY:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

POWER WORD of the DAY:

Resolve