Wish you all a very happy new year. With this New Year we all have new surprises for us. Some may have new clothes, new vehicles, new accommodation, new furniture, new gifts, new articles, etc. But I am sure we all have one thing in common and that is we all have made some kind of New Year resolution. Yes, it is a general practice for many of us; rather all of us to have some kind of resolution; as the New Year sets in. Let’s learn about what resolutions can be made and how to have a holistic resolutions that will ensure overall betterment.
What is a Resolution?
Resolution is the noun form of the verb resolve, which comes from Latin “resolvere”, “to loosen, undo, settle.” We can still see this meaning in resolution, in the sense of “an explanation” or “a solution”; when a problem, conflict or mystery reaches its resolution, it has been “undone,” so to speak. Another common meaning is “determination, resolve”: “Jose approached the task with resolution.” A related sense is “a decision to do something”: “My resolution is to go to the gym three times a week.” The noun resolution has a few related meanings having to do with being firmly determined about something. If you lack determination, you’ll never fulfill your New Year’s resolutions.
Where did it all begin from?
Pondering over the Wikipedia, we find the source as to how the concept of making New Year Resolution began. Surprisingly there is a religious fragrance in the fact.
- The Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.
- The Romans began each year by making promises to the God Janus, for whom the month of January is named.
- In the Medieval era, the knights took the “peacock vow“ at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.
- At watch night services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making resolutions.
- During the Christian liturgical season of Lent, people make the resolution to sacrifice something. In fact, the practice of New Year’s resolutions partially came from the Lenten sacrifices.
The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually. Thus, it has become a tradition to make New Year Resolution, where one either sacrifices something or decides to carry on with something.
What kind of resolutions do people make and what is such outcome?
Apart from materialistic resolution like purchasing new furniture, buying new house, gifting new articles, owning a new mobile phone, people generally make non-materialistic and goal-oriented resolutions like: lose weight, exercise more, eat better, think positive, get out of debt, save money and make small investments, perform better at current job, establish own business, get a better education, learn something new, become more organized, Volunteer to help others, Make new friends, Spend quality time with family members, etc.
However, we find people not able to fulfill or keep up with the resolution they make. Most of us will forget the resolution we kept by the end of the first month itself. History shows, that it is the trend to make the resolution for the New Year but not to be committed with it. Just imagine, even if 50% of the above-discussed resolution would have been met or successfully achieved then the world would all be different from what it is now.
A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, despite the fact that 52% of the study’s participants were confident of success at the beginning. This shows that people are very generous in making the resolution but are very meager in having the commitment to fulfill it.
The question now is that what kind of resolution should one keep, or is there any ideal resolution that all can meet with?
One should keep a resolution that is achievable and within the commitment capacity of oneself. One should not focus on unrealistic concepts and hard to achieve targets. Rather, one should settle with a few, or maybe one resolution a year and make more efforts to achieve it rather than having multiple and unachievable resolutions. The one resolution that we keep must be holistic in nature.
What is a Holistic Resolution?
The word Holistic focuses on the whole, on overall betterment. Holistic resolution means keeping a resolution while keeping in consideration the body, the heart, and the soul. The holistic resolution will not only affect the self but also the surrounding of the self. Holistic resolutions are something that affects the entirety and not only the individual. Though such goals are kept individually but generally affecting the whole and with overall betterment.
We can have holistic resolutions by extending the resolutions that we keep for cooperating with other and mainly with nature. For example, People generally keep a goal like, “to lose weight”, now this is kept keeping in mind the health of the self. The same resolution can be turned holistic in a manner like, “I will donate the portion of the food that is not required for me”, in this manner one would be doing a pious deed which would realize their primary goal as well. Forget what returns you might get out of it but it is for sure that indirectly you will be contributing to those who are fighting with hunger.
Thus, a Holistic Resolution is something that not only makes the self-happy but also others and generally the needy. It just takes one to think a little different to turn your own resolution into a holistic one and contribute your portion to the overall betterment or the betterment of the world. It’s not about professional, it’s more about how your take it personally.
Keeping a holistic resolution will enhance the health of the body, heart and soul. One would not only feel healthy but also happy and contended. This contentment will pour happiness in your surroundings and thus contribute to making the world a better place to live in.
How can we fulfill the resolution we make?
The second and more important question is how to fulfill the resolution, whatever it may be, and successfully achieve it?
Psychologists have found we’re more likely to succeed if we break our resolution into smaller goals that are specific, measurable and time-based. Prof Wiseman suggests following 10 tips for successfully achieving your New Year’s resolution:
- Make only one resolution.
- Don’t wait until New Year’s Eve to think about your resolution be prepared for it earlier.
- Avoid previous resolutions.
- Don’t run with the crowd and go with the usual resolutions.
- Break your goal into a series of steps, sub-goals that are concrete, measurable and time-based.
- Tell your friends and family about your goals.
- Regularly remind yourself of the benefits associated with achieving your goals.
- Give yourself a small reward whenever you achieve a sub-goal.
- Make your plans and progress concrete by keeping handwritten notes of your resolution
- Treat any failure as a temporary setback rather than a reason to give up altogether.
Conclusion
This year let’s not make resolutions but make only one resolution that is holistic in nature and can be achieved successfully. Remember that it’s not what resolutions we make but it is the resolutions that make us. Once again, wish you all a happy new year and prosperous and healthy life ahead.
