December 31, 2001
A Resolute Mind and Soul
Each New Year brings with it
visions of a better self through resolutions or goals.
On the evening news I watch as reporters interview people at shopping
malls on the last day of the year about their New Year’s resolutions.
They want to know if the interviewee actually sets resolutions, if they
have been successful in prior years, and if not, why.
Based on this year’s
interviews, I heard nothing new. Many
are cynical because they have set resolutions before and failed to achieve them,
while others have set lofty goals that appear ill defined or have based their
resolutions on someone else’s expectations i.e. my wife wants me to quit
smoking. The answer from most is
they tried and failed and now don’t waste the time.
The derivative of resolution in
resolute: marked by firm determination (1).
If it were left to me, I would modify that definition to read: marked by
firm determination of mind and soul. When both the mind and the soul are firm in what is desired,
then more likely than not, success will be achieved. To add the soul to resolutions or goals, extra time is needed
to identify what is really important and how we need to change or grow to be all
we can be.
If you are prone to making resolutions, take some extra
time to get in touch with what moves your soul. To define what that feels like
would be like trying to describe what it is like to be in love.
Words cannot do justice to the emotion, but once love is experienced, you
know what it is. So it is with what
it feels like to have your soul moved by an experience, vision, expression,
sound, etc. Remembering what has
moved your soul in the past and using it to direct your resolve for future
self-development will increase the likelihood of success.
This year if you are seeking to
improve your life experience through setting and accomplishing your goals, start
by trying to recall your soul moments. Then
determine what things you can do this year, which, if accomplished, would
provide you with that awesome feeling of nurturing your very essence…your
soul.
With respect, acceptance, and love,
Richard
©
Richard D. Olson and Awaken The Soul, 2001; Edited by Janice E. Olson
(1)
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary