A time for change or change of game?
Do you have any New Year's resolutions?
These conveniently timed goals have, over the years, landed themselves a bad reputation to say the least.
For most people, the track record of new plans made at the start of the calendar has convinced them to look the other way.
Jogging, trying to save more money (which we’re already forced into after Christmas), eating better and quitting bad habits (addictions) are easily some of the more common endeavours chosen to kick January off with.
The bad reputation these aspirations have is of course due to the lack of commitment on the part of the inventors themselves: us.
We indulge so much in things that we know have to change eventually, that a sudden stop/start based on the date is almost without fail, too weak to support the planned revolution.
If you love smoking for example, but know in your heart (and lungs) you should stop someday, the simple changing of the last digit on your emails won’t be enough to keep you clean for more than a few days.
The only way that can change indefinitely, is if you truly decide it should change.
Yes, I know, it sounds too much like the back of a sugar sachet at a coffee shop, but it rings true.
I read the direct inspiration for this piece several days ago: “The most powerful agent of growth and transformation is something much more basic than any technique: a change of heart,” said John Welwood.
Once you think more intensely about it, there can be no other way.
If you feel there’s something unhealthy about one of your habits, but you love it too much, nothing will happen.
Compare this to the point where you make a conscious decision, wholeheartedly, to do something about your situation.
Once that passion is there, the rest will come; it will be hard work sometimes, but nothing will convince you to give up if it’s your final decision.
Now the banality of New Year’s resolutions is not the endgame anymore.
Whether it is something small or a more profound desire for a reversal, it won’t happen until you deeply want it to.
Your dream job won’t come grab you from your current one and your abusive (in any way) partner isn’t going to break up with you and let peace reign, you have to do it on your own, with full input.
We may have ventured into more corny territory there than many of us can tolerate, but I have been converted to this philosophy, and think it’s applicable to anyone, in any way, regardless of the date when you read this.
