Saturday, January 18, 2025
Happy New Year to one and all!
This time of year, lots of folks make New Year’s resolutions as a tool to motivate themselves into some sort of positive change. It might be to quit smoking, or perhaps to exercise more, or even to be more dedicated to spending time with family and friends. All of these are noble pursuits, but research shows that 90% of New Year’s resolutions are thrown out the window and forgotten about within the first 60 days of the new year. Does this mean it would be wise to make a resolution to keep our resolutions? Wait a minute, wouldn’t we break that resolution, too?
Most resolutions are a commitment to something we know we should already be doing. I am pretty sure we all know smoking is bad for our health. So why do we need to wait until a new year to make an expression of commitment to doing better? Why don’t we just go ahead and act? Is it by waiting until the new year we can put off the uneasiness we will experience in fulfilling the resolution?
A wise man once told me there are two types of pain in the world. There is the pain of disappointment we have in ourselves for not doing what we already know we need to do, and there is the pain in actually performing what needs to be done. We each make a choice as to which one of those pains we want to live with.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look in the mirror and know when someone needs to lose weight. People know if they are not making a real commitment in their job, in their marriage, and with their families. They know what they should be doing, and when they fail, they suffer in anguish because they understand they could be better; they let themselves down.
So why don’t we simply do what we know we should do?
For whatever reason, humans do not wish to push themselves out of their comfort zone. They know they shouldn’t grab that extra piece of pie, or have a fast-food burger instead of a salad, but they want the instant gratification that the pie provides. It would take a sacrifice to make a change for the better.
It would be easy for me to get off the sofa and go and walk 45 minutes every night after my evening meal. It is simply a matter of making myself get off my behind and go do it. There will be pain as my out-of-shape body adjusts to the newfound exercise program, and I will be uncomfortable because my brain will whisper in my ear, “the sofa is very comfortable, and the Mavs game is coming on in a few minutes.” My brain will rationalize it is too cool outside; it was such a long exhaustive day, and I am too pooped to walk, or I can catch up tomorrow. Each time we allow ourselves to be talked into abandoning what we already know we need to be doing, we place ourselves in a position to suffer the pain of failure and of disappointing ourselves and others.
There is certainly pain in fulfilling a resolution. If the goal is to quit smoking, the road to accomplishment may bring irritability or weight gain. Exercise will take time out of your schedule; weight loss may require a different diet and saying goodbye to certain foods. Spending more time with your kids might require spending less time fishing, on the golf course or at work. There will be a sacrifice and the pain which comes with it. It is up to you which pain you want to live with.
Choose wisely!
Thought for day: The future depends on what you do today.
Until next time ... I will keep ridin’ the storm out!
