New Year’s Resolutions
It’s January 5th, and I imagine by now that most people who made New Year’s Resolutions have probably already broken one of them. That’s how it usually goes for me — and then typically I feel guilty because I didn’t manage to be perfect.
So….this year I didn’t set any goals at all. I just couldn’t bring myself to sit down and write them!
However, I began to think about goals. Why do we set goals? As I thought about that, it occurred to me that we set goals in order to obtain or reach something that we want or desire — something we need. We all have needs. The things we need are important, because we need to be able to grow, and we all want to grow. So goals are really a blueprint for growth.
The question then becomes, “How do I want to grow this year, and why?”
In order for me to “grow,” I have to know what I need. So if I want to “grow” in physical health, I can think of what I will need. I need to exercise, so my goal might be to exercise three times a week.
I might want my family to grow closer together, and so my goal might be to have one night a week where we do activities as a family.
Now, those goals don’t actually look any different from the goals I have set in other years - and usually either forgotten about or failed to achieve. But this time, I think I can meet them. The reason why is that now I feel differently about them. I see the purpose. I see the potential for growth - and I am motivated to learn and grow. We all are.
Sometimes we lose track of that, and then our goals become “have-to’s,” and the focus is all about working hard with great effort. That is never a very productive way to function. Truly when we use our emotions, and know what we want is to grow, we will have the energy to reach our goals.
Happy New Year!
Principles involved:
** Feelings and thoughts are energy.
** Emotions produce action.
** Re-solving emotions brings peace (or clarity).
** Peace in any circumstance is possible.
