res·o·lu·tion/ˌrezəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/Learn to pronouncenoun

1. 1. a firm decision to do or not to do something.

So I’m looking at the last few days of the year 2019 and I’m trying to do some introspection and self inventory . Thinking about things I’d like to change, thinking about things that I’d like to accomplish ,ways that I want to better myself as a person, as a woman ,as a mother, as a friend… and the word resolution popped into my mind.

I hate that word…

I think my hatred of the word resolution started years ago when we were always asked as children what Our New Year’s resolutions would be .what did we promise ourselves and others that we would do differently during the next 365 days. And we would feverishly write a list of all of these well intentioned commitments that would ultimately never be kept through February..In hopes that we would convince others as well as ourselves that we could somehow magically become better people by transference of writing them down. They hardly ever worked.

Now some people can write the vision ,make it plain and go for it! they can journal and say this is what I will do , then crush their goals ! they can set intentions and make things work …while others in the attempt to do the same thing, fail miserably before the ink is dry on the paper. It causes me to wonder what’s the difference between these two groups of individuals.And that word pops up again …that ugly word ..resolution.

If we look at the aforementioned meaning of the word it’s a firm decision whether we’re going to do or not to do something . it’s not found in our desires and not found in our eloquent writings on December 31 at 11:30 PM . It is found in our inner core ,in our spirit ,where we find the resolve to say that this is what I want to change and make a decision ,not the good intention ,but the actual decision to change. So I had a thought about this.. I realized that there are many things that for years I intended to change about myself. whether it had to do with my health ,my approach to health or weight loss or gain, my approach to bettering myself by taking in more culture ,surrounding myself with people that were outside of my comfort zone ,learning from those that are foreign to me , or traveling solo. I found that things that made me uncomfortable I always covered with this warm safe fuzzy blanket of “good intentions” but I decided to take a more rebellious approach this time around . So as the year comes to a close I decided instead of “resolutions “ I want to write a list of “decisions”

Decision and the word decide dictates a change of mind which would force a change in mindset which is really the issue here isn’t it? So I had an epiphany ! the difference between the two groups of people is one group never adopted a new mindset . The word of God in the Christian belief system tells us that we need to renew our mind and that would also imply that the mind can be subject to erroneous thinking. Erroneous thought patterns could also encapsulate self doubt , fear, low self esteem, stagnation, laziness , complacency , worry, self destruction ,envy , and comparison. All of which can keep us bound and unchanged .

So I urge you to get out a piece of paper and a pen …Pray , meditate ,think really deeply about every single thing that you accomplished or failed to accomplish in this past year . I want you to think of every single way that you would like to see yourself differently through fresh eyes in the coming year . I want you to write down every time you failed a friend ,family member ,a coworker and most of all yourself . I also want you to write down every time you showed up for a friend ,family member,coworker and most of all yourself . “Decide” what you want to do different and write down every decision and action plan to create and affect change in your life . Not just for the coming year but permanently . This year my friends your “resolution” is to make “decisions” that will serve you better and better every single day… forever

Happy new year 🎈