res o lute | lrezəlloōt; -lət |
adjective : admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering- she was resolute and unswerving.
Naturally, you’ve heard of the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ and all those things you receive from your ‘true love.’ I hereby propose the ‘100 Days of Resolution’- a time of giving.
Give to yourself, your loved ones, and give to your community. A veritable triad of giving. In this quest, “Resolve to be Resolute.”
Brian Johnson, in his Philosopher’s Notes series, says it takes 3-6 months of mindful attention to break old habits and make new ones stick. He also talks about the necessity of making key new habits non-negotiable, meaning that when the little voices start sounding off with very reasonable excuses to waver from your plan, that you simply tell them, “Non-negotiable.” I say again, “Resolve to be Resolute.”
So, 3-6 months. Hmm… Brian thinks 100 days is a nice number to work with. I agree. Think Century Ride, or even an Ultra 100 Marathon. Difficult, but certainly attainable. Start today with the ‘100 Days of Resolution’ and hit the century mark on April 10th. From there go on to the 250, the 500, and then the 1000!
Here are some thoughts on my triad of giving:
You. It must all start here. Very wise and influential people, all through the ages, have talked about the benefits of beginning every day with mindful alertness. This is achieved through meditation or prayer, whatever your preference. The key is that it is every day. And you must make this “Non-negotiable.”
Then add in your other goals, whether it is to eat right, lose weight, actually use your gym membership, try new things, whatever. Feed your self, your soul, your spirit first, so that you can then truly give to others.
Loved Ones. Here is a family-style idea- try telling your partner and your kids that you love them, every day. And here is the challenge- that you do it only when totally present in the moment and from an open heart. No automatics. Not easy at first, but attainable, certainly.
Oh, and it is recommended that you may need to filter these moments! For example, even though the seemingly right moment may arise while dropping the kids off at school, it is unlikely they will appreciate your yelling after them as they join up with their friends!
Community. There are countless ways to give, give back, and pay forward. Having a hard time? Think simple. A couple years ago my Mom started sending my kids $20 during the holidays with the ask that they use it somehow to benefit others. It has evolved into carrying a few goodie bags in the family vehicles, stocked with a healthy bar, an orange, a dollar, and some sugar-free minty gum. These are for the less fortunate that we come across, at intersections, or in parks, that are asking for a bit of help.
I have a couple ideas for myself for this year, but need to explore them more this week. I would love to hear yours.
I hope you join me in this, or perhaps you have your own plan. And I hope you will share your experience.
May you have a Healthy, Happy, and Peaceful New Year.
Tags: 12 Days Of Christmas, Alertness, Christmas, Days Of Christmas, Family Style, Little Voices, Meditation, Mindful Attention, Old Habits, Philosopher, Prayer, Preference, Spirit, Start Today, Triad, True Love, Ultra Marathon
Great article Paul. Thanks for sharing it. I especially like the idea of the goodie bags.
With Support we can do anything it seems. Thanks for the inspiration Paul.
Casey Connors