Not Resolutions…But Resoluteness Part 2

You can't go out and do this if the most physical thing you've done recently is sit on that bus.

Lets continue with some thoughts on overcoming the “resolution trap.” The second big problem in most people’s New Year’s Resolutions is that they are drastic. Most skip any sense of building up to a big goal and seek to climb Mt. Everest the first day out. Most also require their walker to make large scale, immediate, unmanageable changes.

Fitness again is a perfect metaphor here. You don’t go from sitting on the couch to high level training for the Tour De France just because the last digit on the number of the year changes. If you do it won’t last long. First you’ll fall apart physically rather quickly. Second even the people training for that type of event didn’t start by training for that type of event. The point is that to deal with the reality of a big physical challenge there is an entire and extensive physical and mental build up process that takes time. In that time you gain the necessary habits desire and strength necessary to complete the task.

Also (and this for most people) you don’t go from living like John Belushi to living like the Dahli Lama overnight. The brakes just can’t be applied that fast without some smoke, screeching and slippage. It takes time and effort to create a disciplined lifestyle and make lasting changes. That time builds up a snowball effect of changes that are small but easy and continually adding up to a drastic turnaround. Without that time you’re not prepared for that life, you don’t have the discipline, desire or skills.

You can however get there. Resolutions require those unrealistic changes, but the state of resoluteness is bigger. Resoluteness is the recognition of the long term commitment to an ideal. It’s not “I’m going to lose 15lbs by next month.” It’s “I’m going to be continually committed to my health and will build it block by block so when I’m at my goals I will have achieved a real, lasting thing.”

It’s a mature understanding of self and life. It’s real evaluation of what you really care about and a real unstoppable step by step process to get there.

God bless,
Bud Jeffries