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?
Your post is outstanding. We *can* change our dispositions and you’ve given us many excellent ways in which we, too, can begin to change ours.
“In moments of stress or weakness, all of our disciplines fall by the wayside and our true disposition is revealed.” Yes, very true… “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.” Wonderfully said. Thank you, Joseph, for this inspiring message.
Thank you for your kind words Michelle…
There’s a lot of wisdom here. I really like the questions to ask in challenging circumstances. I’d love to hear how this played out by the end of 2010 and if you feel like you grew exponentially because of these ideas.
Thank you so much. It was the most meaningful New Years resolution I had done… The questions were inspired by Debbie Ford, though I can’t recall which book it was that I was reading at the time. All of her stuff is great, though, especially the movie she produced The Shadow Effect (I think it should be required material before dating, marrying, child-rearing, etc) 🙂
Oh, and yes, I did grow from these, so much more than any other resolution. Looking back, my mind operates differently now, and my natural response to life’s challenges is completely different. Mission accomplished… but still in process. 😉