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It is again the time when lots of people make the New Year’s resolutions. “I will be more charitable”, “I will learn a new language”, “I will learn to play an instrument”, “I will reduce the computer game playing time”, “I will study more”, “I will eat more healthy foods”, “I’ll exercise more”, and so on. And for lots of people, those ‘commitments’ remain just like that throughout the year: simply, and nothing more than “New Year’s resolutions”.

Does it mean that we do not have what it takes to make reality those resolutions?

Nope, it does not. We do have what it takes… We, human beings, have the qualities; only that those may not be fully ‘ripened’. So, we just need to develop a bit further those qualities.

First, let’s feel the desire to get better. Truly, if we were focused enough to sit down and write that list of resolutions, high chances are that we already know the benefits that those actions will bring to our lives. Such realization should be enough to motivate us to continue in that direction. Then we need to be determined to achieve the results we want. If that sounds too soft, let’s then commit to do what it takes. By now, we know we can do it, and that makes us optimist. Such optimism will give us enough strength to persevere until we achieve the results we want, and to be focused to overcome the obstacles we encounter (of course, there will be obstacles, our own laziness be an important one, or lack of time if too many resolutions).

Perhaps we also need to be a bit more technical. We have to have a plan for the resolution: what to do, when to do, and how to do. That will give us clarity. For example, instead of “I will exercise more”, we can commit to “exercise one hour, Monday to Friday, from 6 to 7 am, at the gym on First Avenue”. That is our goal, but we need to be clear on the steps to take to get to that goal; for example, we may need to register at the gym on First Avenue as a first step (or check our fitness with a doctor!). And once we take that first step, the second, third, and fourth step will be done a lot easier.

At the end of the year, we will be pleased when looking back at the results, just to feel invigorated inside, with the gratifying feeling to have further developed those qualities and virtues, which, at the end, are meant to be the foundation to keep improving for the years to come and achieve again the 2020 New Year’s resolutions!

Happy New Year!