Higher Resolution

It is five days into the new year and inevitably the question has already been asked: 'What's your New Year's resolution?'

I don't have one. I don't believe in them. I think its a silly concept.

I love the idea of change and progress. Especially when it is self motivated and self regulated. After all, what is damnation of than the halt of progress? I support change in myself and others.

The problem I have with New Year's resolutions are these: 1) Lack of resolve 2) Timing.

New Year's Resolutions lack resolve. Fundamentally, the reason we make New Year's Resolutions is not because we have an intense desire, or resolve, if you will, for change. Rather we make them because it it New Years. If this change you resolve to make was really that high on your priorities list you wouldn't wait until December 31st to effect it.

Timing, they say, is everything. Time is the one thing we all have the same amount of, and what we do in life depends most on how we budget it. It is the great struggle of quality versus quantity. How many things can I attempt to accomplish in a day and still give them the attention, effort, and energy they require to be done correctly? While there is a certain undeniable romance to beginning some personal adventure of change on the first day of a new year, this can be diluted with attempting too much at one time. You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time, but with the to-do lists we can create for our New Year's Resolutions, it can be like attempting to swallow the monster whole.

My advice? Before I deliver it, remember free advice is usually worth what you paid for it. If you want to change something about yourself do it. Do it for yourself, when you want to. Ultimately, this will create more resolve than to try to change for any other reason at any other time. Also, pace yourself. To borrow again from the great book of cliches, Rome was not built in a day. Take changes at a pace that you can give them the effort the require.

Above all, have a wonderful year.