I usually don't make new years resolutions. I gave up on them somewhere between "I'm going to learn to eat healthier" and "I'm going to exercise every day". At some point I gave up on the socially mandated tradition of wanting to change myself, and settled for living each day to the best of my ability. I think it was ultimately that I didn't want to disappoint myself. Or maybe I never liked being accountable to goals I didn't totally believe I was capable of achieving. Or maybe I need to change the way I look at resolutions.This year I decided to make resolutions, but I also decided to re-evaluate why I was resolving to do things-- to put some effort into preventing myself from stressing out or failing or bailing like I have before. I want my resolutions to be, more than goals, promises to myself, to my friends, to my family, and to my God. Resolutions and promises that I know I can keep because they will be positive life-style and love-style changes rather than shallow goals influence by a shallow world.
Okay okay. So what are these "resolutions"? They might sound simple, but that's what I am going for. My goals are 1) to listen and 2) to be more healthy. Two simple promises to myself and to others-- more loaded than it may seem on the surface...
Listen. (synonyms: hear, pay attention, concentrate, take notice of)
- Listen to my friends--be more attentive to the wants and needs of those closest to me. accept love, criticism, and encouragement from them. be willing to be vulnerable in conversation. be first to lend an ear, last to lend a word.
- Listen to my family--be willing to listen despite what's going on inside my brain. give others' thoughts and opinions the same value and time as I give my own. think before responding. assume the best intentions. seek out opportunities to listen and participate in conversation.
- Listen to myself-- trust my intellect and experiences. be confident in my intuition. don't be afraid of having big dreams. be more willing to be uncomfortable if it means growing.
- Listen to God-- His plans are so much bigger and better than anything I could come up with. be confident in His story for my life. don't be afraid of letting Him and His Kingdom be my goal. listen despite the world. don't worry about what's next. be willing to do anything that He wants me to do. be willing to follow Him even if it's not what I, or anyone else, has pictured for my life.
Be healthy. (synonyms: fit, beneficial, wholesome, nourished)
- Have a healthy body-- get my diabetes under control. have an in-range A1c. not have to worry about future complications. eat foods that help my body function, and eat less foods that don't help my body do its job. learn to love and appreciate exercise for its benefits to my mental and physical well-being. strive to be able to accomplish any physical task I'd like to. learn to love my body.
- Have a healthy mind-- learn to stray away from some of the popular media and music that drag me down. try not to talk to or about anyone in a way that would make me uncomfortable if I were the subject of conversation. allow myself to not be perfect. appreciate my intellect and wisdom. give myself time to rest my brain.
- Have a healthy spirit-- learn to focus on God and allow myself to be centered in Him and in His word. learn to listen and focus. be willing to let God work in me and change me for the better. let God use my willing spirit to let everything else fall in line.
As I work my way into this new year, I am praying that these resolutions will stay near to my heart. I am long overdue to catch up with God and get back to where we were a few years ago. Striving to listen and be more healthy are two very attainable goals with very obvious benefits. I am excited to see how it changes my life in little and big ways. Oh what an adventure it will be to look back and reflect on this next year... :)
I think 2014 is going to be spectacular :)
