Some Thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions – January 3, 2016
I stopped making New Year’s resolutions years ago. It reminds me of rules, restrictions, diets and to-do lists. Having been a marathon dieter in the past I cringe at anything resembling a set of limitations and constraints. Change and growth is a process and releasing old patterns and developing new behaviors takes time and not simply turning a page on the calendar. It is determined not by will power and self-control but by self-love, self-acceptance and self-forgiveness. And it comes after (as Abraham says), making peace with where you are.
That being said, I love sitting down during these first days of January with my new journal, colored pens and drawing paper and getting in touch with what I want to create. I savor the rare silence in the city, the soft music, the candles glowing and my morning coffee. But I must remember to let my inner wise person take the lead and not my crazy inner critic. There has to be inspiration, joy and passion otherwise we simply don’t have the fire to stick to our dreams. I love David Whyte’s quote: Anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you.
What I am trying to say, dear friends, is be gentle with yourself. Be patient. Have enormous compassion towards yourself and this New Year so young and full of promise. You may fail or falter; it’s part of the process. Make room for that. Keep in mind what Samuel Beckett said: Fail. Fail more. Fail better. And remember, we are all a beautiful work in progress.
Only dreams give birth to change, writes Sarah Ban Breathnach in her January 1 entry of her beautiful book, Simple Abundance. She ends the page with this: Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous new year by believing. Believe in yourself. And believe that there is a loving source – a Sower of Dreams just waiting to be asked to help you and make your dreams come true.
