Last year, my New Years Resolution was a major undertaking and in the end it was a piece of art.
After several weeks of planning I ended up with a 3 page vision for every element of my life. I had a clear picture of what my physical health would look like, my business, my relationships, spirituality, my daily routines, etc.
There was a small problem though. Nearly everything on the list was focused on one of two things: doing or having.
“Life is not a having and a getting, but a being and a becoming.” ~ Matthew Arnold
Realizing that we are not what we have, nor what we do, I have made a shift in my resolutions this year. For 2010 my focus is on those things that will change my disposition (my natural inclination for action) in stead of just my discipline (the actions I force myself to take) or the outward results.
In moments of stress or weakness, all of our disciplines fall by the wayside and our true disposition is revealed. In order to make sure my personal development is built on a strong foundation that will endure the storms of life, my disposition-oriented resolutions for 2010 are as follows:
- I will ask the question every day: “How can I connect with God?”
- I will allow myself to be with “what is” without judgement or fear.
- I will take inspired steps every day. It’s not the size of the step that matters, just the size of the inspiration.
- I will surrender to each moment.
- I will see each moment – success or failure – as beneficial to my purpose and pass the lesson along to help others.
- I will cleanse my inner vessel.
- I will live each moment all in… holding nothing back.
- I will pour love into myself.
- I will be a conscious observer, watching myself with innocent curiosity.
- I will embrace each experience – good or bad – by breathing into it, feeling it, watching it, knowing it and releasing it.
- I will let go of who I thought I was, to discover and embrace who I truly am.
In challenging situations and circumstances I will ask myself the following questions:
- How can I bring more vulnerability to this moment?
- How can I bring more humility to this moment?
- How can I bring more generosity to this moment?
- How can I bring more compassion to this moment?
- How can I be of more service in this moment?
- How can I bring more willingness to this moment?
- How can I bring more honesty to this moment?
These goals may be a lot less measurable than the traditional resolutions, but I believe that the fruit will be even more visible, and of greater importance: more enduring. We can’t take anything with us but our natures, so what better investment of energy than to improve the only eternal element of our being?
