SOLISSEA'S CORNER: I RESOLVE...

January

The month of January derives its name from the Roman mythological god named Janus. According to Roman mythology, Janus is the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings, endings and time. Janus was often used to symbolize change and transitions such as the progression of past to future, of one condition to another, of one vision to another, the growing up of young people, and of one universe to another. Most often he is depicted as having two heads, facing opposite directions; one head looks back at the last year while the other looks forward to the new, simultaneously into the future and the past.

I get that.

Those who know me best know that each year, beginning somewhere in mid-December, I enter into a somewhat introspective mode which lasts until sometime after Christmas. During this time, I embrace the principle of the mythological Janus: I look back over the past year, determine what should be carried over to the new year and what should not. I take a personal inventory with the ultimate goal of letting go of the old or things that have not worked, and initiate a new plan for the coming year! This becomes my annual goal-setting time and a great way to measure personal growth.

If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know I am an advocate for personal growth. Stagnancy in life usually comes from a lack of ability to challenge oneself to greater levels . So, whether it is in the realm of spirituality, education, health, charity, personal economics, or relationships, the goal should be measured growth and forward progress in life. Despite setbacks caused by ourselves, others, or our circumstances, we should always try to move forward in life in a positive way. Like Janus, I believe it is prudent to look back and look forward in order to make a positive transition from past to the future. While you can do this exercise any time of the year, or even many times throughout the year, January is a great time to begin!

New Year’s Resolutions

According to Wikipedia, recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a Resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. That is a pretty small percentage of success. If you have ever made a new year’s resolution, you may have experienced at least one year where you fall into that statistic. The top ten most popular resolutions never change, but the success rate never improves. Interesting...

I think we’re better off creating new year goals, then give ourselves a year to achieve them. If I made resolutions, I would have resolved to blog more. However, my 2011 goal is to blog more. GOOD THING! January came in like a lion and has been non-stop changes (mostly good) and unplanned activity! I have barely turned my computer on this year, much less had time to write! With resolutions, everybody seems to make a strong start the first few days, but inevitably something happens and throws us off track right away. So, I would recommend making a more thoughtful list of goals for yourselves and then, do not measure your success or failure until the end of the year. Life happens – ya gotta roll with it!

Here is a list to help. You fill in the “something”. I’ll give a list of 12, one for each month. Choose as many or as few as you'd like, or add your own. Make some attainable and some you have to reach for. Challenge yourself but try not to set yourself up for failure. Nothing is more discouraging that failing over and over again. Whatever you do, set at least one goal for yourself for 2011, so that you have something to grow and cultivate in your life this year.

1. Quit something
2. Start something
3. Lose something
4. Find something
5. Let go of something
6. Embrace something
7. Forgive something
8. Love something
9. Try something new
10. Give something
11. Renew something
12. Resolve something.

“As we get rid of an old year and look forward to a new one, we all try to be a little like Janus. We know through experience what we did wrong and what we did right, and hope to do better this year.”

A Resolve for Every Morning of the New Year

Bishop John H. Vincent

I will this day resolve to live a simple, sincere and serene life; repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity and self-seeking; instead cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity and the habit of holy silence; exercising economy in expenditure, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust, and a child-like trust in God.