New year resolution means you already destroyed your New Year!
Photo Copyright Suresh Gundappa 2007
You decide today for tomorrow? You have destroyed tomorrow.
Allow the tomorrow to have its own being. Let it COME in its own way! Let it bring its own gifts.
Resolution means you will allow only this and you will not allow that. Resolution means you would like the sun to rise in the west and not in the east. If it rises in the east, you will not open your windows; you will keep your windows open to the west.
What is resolution? Resolution is struggle. Resolution is ego. Resolution is saying, “I cannot live spontaneously.” And if you cannot live spontaneously, you don’t live at all — you only pretend.
Resolution also means you are not able to resolve issues. You get into resolution because issues are not easy on you. You say “I want to leave smoking next year!” – So leave it. Why make resolution for it. Because smoking is tough to leave you move into resolution mode. The moment you make resolutions, you already started your New Year with a war in your mind. Now you have created a situation where if your resolution fails then it leaves a mark on your mind. You are already set yourself up for failure and friction.
Let me make another point clear. Whatever you want to do New Year – Have clear intent of it but don’t make resolution. Intent means you will make effort to change or execute whatever you have planned but you are not worried about results. Intent means you will celebrate both failure and success equally well. Resolution means you are not ready for anything other than success.
So let only one resolution be there: I will never make any resolutions. Drop all resolutions! Let life be a natural spontaneity. The only golden rule is that there are no golden rules.
Love and lots of it Dear ones
Happy New Year!
Suresh
I should have read your post first! You are right of course. I never made New Year’s resolutions because I, too, thought they only invited failure. Everyone KNOWS that to resolve NOT to do a thing, means you will do it right away! At least for me, that’s what it means.
Maybe my resolution should be positive rather than negative? I resolve to “worship” in the great outdoors rather than within the four wall of a building. Will that work? Thanks for your insights, Suresh!
Midwest Doubter
December 29, 2006 at 2:01 pm
I LOVE those words of wisdom, Suresh. We set ourselves up for failure every year by making stupid New Year’s resolutions oftentimes under the influence of alcohol or mind altering substances.
Thanks for your incredible generosity throughout the year in which you’ve shared so many of your precious gifts with us and then encouraged debate providing a safe place for us to read, experiment, ponder, and express our views on so many different topics.
On a personal note, you’ve made my life much richer with the ongoing encouragement, support and brutal honesty that’s never wavered despite my growing frustration at times. You helped me gain enough strength and confidence by always believing that I could achieve anything within reason and then some. You had faith in me and I’m forever grateful to you, Suresh.
Happy New Year to you and your family, my friend.
As always,
Peace
Gracie
December 29, 2006 at 7:58 pm
Gracie Thank you very much. It has been a joy, love and life’s blessings to know you and your Blog.
My best wishes to you adn your Family. Have fun!
Happy New Year!
Suresh Gundappa
December 30, 2006 at 1:27 am
Beatiful written.
I am thinking alot about the connection between intent and spontaniety.
The border between intent and resolution is a very fine line.
Happy New Year.
Ido
Ido Levi
December 30, 2006 at 9:01 am
Spontaniety is good, for life has always been about that. Yet, sometimes, we need to make plans, whether a good idea or one with a gazillion details, either because such is our nature or because we need the goal for specific reasons.
Daijinryuu
December 30, 2006 at 11:32 am
I could never be resolved to do anything, I am too lazy. However, there is still this urgency to live life to it’s fullest, even if this is at a slower pace than others. So, friend a toast to love, liberty, and the pursuit of all that makes this world a better place to live in…To The Journey!
Kristine
December 30, 2006 at 6:34 pm
Beautiful photo and I love your words as well! There is a fine balance between letting life happen and living from intention. Your words help me find it in this moment!
naturalhigh
December 30, 2006 at 10:10 pm
Fantastic post and photograph – Best wishes for a Happy New Year
Nicola
January 1, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Hi saw your comment on Nuke’s Blog and thought I’d explore.
1. The photograph is just stunning. I live among the Welsh mountains and it resonates with me.
2. Your comment: “Intent means you will celebrate both failure and success equally well. Resolution means you are not ready for anything other than success.”
That is real wisom. And I know.
I have suffered from depression to an extent it is hard to describe. I have had cognative behavioural therapy and what you said there is what it is all about. I was seeking perfection and living with constant failure. I have changed my life view and my depression is virtually gone (still have days withthe black dog.)
Thank you and Gob bless you and yours.
vimto1
January 5, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Mmm that should have been God bless, but I guess you worked that one out.
vimto1
January 5, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Thanks for visiting.
I do make resolutions…more like goals. Failing does not scar my mind…it just proves that I can’t do anything on my own! That’s why I need the power of Christ within me to pick me up, help me resolve again…be strong again, not see myself as a failure, see the goal as worthy enough of the war within, and be ready to fight it to the end.
I do best when, each month, I set a new set of resolutions. I look at why I failed the month before and look at ways to get around that the next time. New habits are only formed as we are willing to shake off the dust, and get up again kicking strong. For every war, we know ourselves better, and become stronger. We know what it takes to overcome the next time.
Great food for thought.
Maggie
January 5, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Suresh, thanks for your comment in our blog. I have just moved it to our new URL
http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/09/15/ready-to-learn/#comment-1749
your pictures never stop to amaze me. you may want to submit a post to the brain fitness carnival blog we are just launching!
http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_880.html
PS: the email you left at our site doesn’t seem to be working
Alvaro
January 5, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I must agree.
Every minute in my life is different and highly interesting.
If you have planned tomorrow, how can you recieve anything as you already know what to expect..!!
These pictures are stunning..
drujohnwigsinkiwi
January 5, 2007 at 6:38 pm
i see what you mean now! thank you for coming by my blog, i love yours! it’s beautiful.
reg927
January 11, 2007 at 4:21 pm
the photo is breathtaking.
dismantleddoll
January 24, 2007 at 4:25 am
Bush is forever saying that democracies do not invade other countries and start wars. Well, he did just that. He invaded Iraq, started a war, and killed people. What do you think? What is he doing to us, and what is he doing to the world?
Our country is in debt until forever, we don’t have jobs, and we live in fear. We have invaded a country and been responsible for thousands of deaths.
The more people that the government puts in jails, the safer we are told to think we are. The real terrorists are wherever they are, but they aren’t living in a country with bars on the windows. We are.
Antibush
February 12, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I actually had the habit of making resolutions once in a way, but I tried out what the idea in this post. It worked quite well – I could avoid the energy wasted in self-conflict, and find that eventually when my intent became strong enough, whatever I wanted to do happens in a natural effortless way.
Compared to the resolution approach where there’s still a lingering doubt about whether I should forget about it, the strong intention works better where now there’s no doubt at all – because I know I’ve tried the more convenient alternative time and again earlier, which hasn’t worked… so now there’s not a second thought!
Sanjay M
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