Friday, December 28, 2012

On Making New Year's Resolutions


Photo: quizzle.com
In a matter of days we will be saying goodbye to 2012 and say hello to a new year. This is the time to make a list of what we want to do or accomplish next year. It's the time that we like to have a clean slate to start over again.
Every year, we also produce a sadly familiar repertoire of aspirations dealing with bad habits. On the first days of every year, we always mean well, but it's clear that some of us lack firmness of purpose. The spirit is willing, but the flesh loses its temper. You could say, that's the essence of New Year's Resolution. It's a wet sponge, slurping up the black marks of the past, leaving a clean slate for the future.
What if, going forward, you aren't determined but instead you have determination? I know, you're wondering "What's the difference?" Other words for determined are: resolute, gritty, and unwavering. I'm not sure about you, but all I feel when I read those words is "blah"! I don't feel very inspired. When setting goals and making plans, being inspired is an absolute! Now let's look at the word determination: it also means purpose. Another word for purpose is intention, which also means goal. 
What is the purpose that you want to accomplish this year? Is it really quitting a bad habit? Is it really about exercise or is it about feeling great inside and out? 
What if this year you said "My purpose for 2013 is to look great, feel great and love my reflection" instead of saying "My New Year's Resolutions are... blah... blah... blah..."? How do you think that would change your outlook? 
But still, if you break your goal/resolution, don't feel bad about yourself. After all,  it's not the breaking of resolutions that counts so much as the making. To make a resolution is to travel hopefully, to reach beyond one's grasp, to try a better life-style on for size, just in case --- this year --- you'll finally be able to say, "I've finally grown big enough to fit into it."

14 comments:

  1. I don't usually do a new years resolution eh. Basta I will do my best na lang para mapagbuti pa ang mga bagay bagay sa buhay ko.

    Happy New Year!

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  2. magkaiba pa pala ang determined at determination? hehe.. ang lagi ko lang new years resolution ay mag-diet..which is sa umpisa ng year ko lang nagagawa..hehe hirap kasi!

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  3. well i just did a new years resolution, but basically my plan is to be better
    come what may pa din ako haha

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  4. I started with the resolutions last week. :P I figured, why wait for January.

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  5. una sa list ko ang pagpapayat totoo na talaga, i motivate myself to give away 5k kung hindi pa ako papayat in 3 months time! hahaha ang ganda ng entry mo! dumugo ilong ko! hehehe happy new year!!

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  6. good point... our lives should be spent uncovering our individual purposes... we do not come up with list of resolutions na hindi naman nasusunod...

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  7. I usually meet at least half of our resolutions. Happy New Year in advanced to you

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  8. napaisip tuloy ako kung ano new year resolution ko... madalas di ko rin nagagawa hehehe

    happy happy new year

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  9. I stopped doing a new years resolution because I end up forgetting it..:P Pinag bubutihan ko na lang kung ano man yung mga ginagawa ko...:)


    xx!

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  10. di na ako nagtatangka mag new years resolution kasi laging bigo..pero maganda nga siguro na meron - at least inisip ko kung ano ang mga kailangan ko baguhin :)

    Advance Happy New Year Lawrence! :)

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  11. Exactly! Ganda ng ng purpose mo for making new years resolution.

    Happy New Year!

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  12. Wala akng New Year's resolution this 2013 kasi kadalasan di naman di ko naman nasusunod. hehe! Advance Happy New Year!

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