Making
resolutions on New Year is one of the popular practices around the world and
perhaps many of us do. But how long do we stick on to our resolutions, is a
question we need to ask ourselves.
Resolution
originates from the word, ‘resolve”, which means to decide. Therefore a New
Year resolution is a important decision you are making, and the decision you
make should be a good one. The quality of our life depends entirely upon the
decisions we take, from the list of available choices we have, at every moment
of our life. When you make right decisions, the outcomes are good and therefore
your life is happy. When you make wrong decisions, the outcomes are bad and you
have to face the consequences. Therefore, a good decision is something which is
well thought of, considering all the factors and then made.
New Year
resolutions vary to a great extent from person to person, but some of the
popular one’s are:
·
To quit smoking/ drinking.
·
To get into a daily exercise
regime.
·
To wake up early.
·
To spend more time with family.
·
To save money for the future.
·
To avoid procrastination.
·
To avoid gossiping.
·
To get organised and
systematic.
·
To learn something new.
·
To reduce work load and stress.
Are a few of
these in your list of 2012 resolutions? Perhaps, Yes. So, what made you take
these resolutions? Let us examine. Something, within us told that, our life
would be much better and happier, if a particular change happens in our
lifestyle. Our mind processed these thoughts and showed us an ideal picture of
how good our life would be if we made these needed change. For example, when we said to ourselves, “I
will get into a daily exercise regime”, our mind showed us a positive image of
being, ‘fit and healthy’. Along with this positive mental image came a positive
feeling and it was this positive feeling that triggered us to make the
resolution.
Then, why is it
that after having made a good New Year resolution, we have not been able to
hold on to it? This is because as the days go by we tend to get tired andbored,of
having to get disciplined. We as human beings do not like to be curtailed by
any limitations, even if it simple imposed. Whatever that restricts our
freedom, is seen as a burden. So when we forcefully discipline ourselves, it is
not a comfortable feeling.Though we very well know that, what we are doing is
for our own good, our mind finds it difficult to accept the change. For
example, if we have been giving ourselves the freedom to sleep till 7 in the
morning and then we make a resolution to wake up at 5.30am, when the morning
alarm rings, we feel so disturbed and our mind searches for an excuse to sleep
a little longer.
It could also happen,
when we enter a state of frustration that the desired positive outcome did not
happen, within the anticipated time. So we lose heart, get stressed and go back
to our old habits. We are all hooked up to our old habits, and remember habits
die hard.To get out of our old habit and to live a new habitis not as easy as
we think. It takes many days of practice and perseverance.
Behavioural
Scientists and Spiritual Gurus advocate the “21 days to form a new habit”. This
also means that it would take at least 21 days to break an old habit. They say
whatever you do for 21 days in a stretch, (including Sundays) will get embedded
in your neuro system and become a part and parcel of you. For behaviour
transformation to happen, Sunday cannot be a holiday.No matter what, if you can
stick on to a new habit for 21 days the chances of you to succeed is far
higher. So, give it a try!
A resolution
backed up by a good action plan, a deep commitment, an effective monitoring
system and the willingness to undergo the pain during this course of change,
will surely succeed. If any one of these
elements is missing, then what you have just made is not a resolution, but just
a wishful thinking.I wish you and your resolutions to succeed, this year. Happy
and prosperous 2012.
Happy
Reading,
D.SenthilKannan
Article dated Jan'12
