It’s that time of year when many of us make New Year's resolutions where we promise ourselves that we’ll eat less, drink less, work out more, work harder, work less or whatever we think it takes to make us the person we want to be. Some of us want to be wealthier or more successful in business while others just want to be happier, less stressed or less lonely. All great intentions.
For me, I’ve almost always set at least one New Year's resolution and I’ve almost always forgotten about it within a week or two. On the flip side, I know people (one brother in particular) who set resolutions every year and almost always stick to them to the very end. I’m both jealous and perplexed.
So, are resolutions good or bad? The simple answer is ‘yes.’ They’re good for some, and (so far) they’re bad for me. While I’m not sure why, what I am sure of is that it doesn’t make sense for anyone to try and convince me that setting New Year's resolutions will improve my life. I’m likewise sure that I shouldn’t tell anyone that their resolutions are stupid.
Because the new year is nearly upon us, I was thinking about this recently as I watched a football game and saw a player take a knee and bow his head after a touchdown - assumedly giving a quick and quiet word of thanks to God.
I know some people get annoyed when athletes talk about God. When an athlete thanks God for the good fortune bestowed upon him/her, some people scoff and comment along the lines of “it’s not like God decided he wanted one player to outperform another, or he wanted one team to beat another…” I agree with this statement, but I don’t agree that players are wrong to have or express faith in God.
Personally, I think the whole idea of a supreme being is wonderful, but also a difficult thing to wrap one’s head around. However, this is where these two concepts come together for me. Just as New Year's resolutions work for some people, I’m 100% certain that religion/faith make some people better than they would have been without it. With that in mind, the facts of the Bible or Koran or whatever become irrelevant. The fact is that for some people religion makes them happier, kinder, stronger, and sometimes, as a result, more successful. If that’s the case (and it is), who are we to doubt it? It may not be for you, but don’t try to take it away from those it helps.
Having made this connection in my mind, which nudged me in a more open-minded direction, I then heard someone say “Having nice clothes is not a waste. When I look nice, it makes me feel more confident.”
I have never thought that one should need expensive clothes to be confident or successful… but my now-opened mind must now admit that this view is only relevant to me. It’s based purely on my personal perspective. Who am I to say that this view isn’t legitimate for someone else?
I wonder what else I/we should be more open to? Regardless, happy new year… with or without your resolutions.
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