Photo by Jordan Wozniak on Unsplash
Usually, around this time of year, is when there is an abundance of media and discussion around new years resolutions.
I, too, wrote a piece last year which you can check out here.
I look back and for the most part, my view on the concept of new years resolutions have not changed; i.e. I still believe that it is something of a cultural hype, something that is periodically 'hashtag-able', a tool that is annually leveraged by opportunistic businesses, something that can empower, uplift, and motivate people every three hundred and sixty five days.
I appreciate that it can be a catalyst for many to start their years off right, on a path of development and improvement; I find nothing wrong with that at all.
I do not, however, agree with the mindset that is usually behind the concept; that is, we wait for this particular time to do it.
If you have read any of my thoughts before, you will know that my view of self-improvement is that it is a core practice of life, of existence.
To break it down, the definition of the word 'resolution' in this context is all about setting an intention, making a commitment, a determination towards an action.
But as mentioned in my post last year, if we're only doing this once a year, what are we doing on each and every other day of the year?
More importantly though, if we feel that we need to do this for ourselves every year, then perhaps we are approaching life through a collective lens.
Think about it this way - speaking generally, we make the resolution because we wish to improve certain aspects of our own lives; again, absolutely nothing wrong with this.
However, the mere fact that we need to set the intention, to motivate ourselves to do something may indicate that this action is somewhat forced, something we don't actually want to do.
Let's use a common goal as an example: many people want to get into (or back into) the gym, lose weight, get their summer physique, etc.
Now ask yourself this question: if the concept of looking great in a bikini or having eight-pack abs didn't exist in this world, that is, these things were not held in such high regard or viewed as the pinnacle of attractiveness, would this resolution remain the same for you?
If in your heart-of-hearts you would keep this resolution, then great, you're likely not needing to set the resolution because this is something that is truly in your heart and you're already working daily to achieve this.
I am not saying that there is anything wrong with being ambitious, setting 'goals' or wanting to achieve something.
My point is that for most, we're needing to force ourselves to do things, a lot of the time unknowingly, to meet the expectations or gain validation from sources external to ourselves.
Again, if we truly want to accomplish anything, we shouldn't need any 'extra motivation'; we would simply get it done.
Circling back to my point about self-improvement being a core principle of our human existence, we each innately want to perpetually-evolve. This is evident throughout human history; we wouldn't be where we are as a species without this yearning.
But what we each want to discover and create as individuals is vastly different from one another.
It may not fit the mould of society.
It may not meet the expectations of modern civilisation.
It may not get the validation from those around you, or anyone at all, for the matter.
It may not even make sense to the world.
But this is your vocation.
This is what you were born to discover.
This is your way of truly living in harmony with the world.
When you discover this, when you flow with the ocean of life instead of trying to swim against the current, your life is all about discovery and motion.
The 1st of January simply becomes another day that we are fortunate enough to rise to continue riding the waves of life and progress on the journey of discovering what our own unique existence is all about.
Perhaps, the periodic need to reinvigorate ourselves, to re-empower ourselves to 'get after it' is because we're constantly pushing on the door of life, when all we really need is to simply take a step back and realise that the door reads 'pull'.
Happy new year.