New Year's Resolutions

Written by Laura Downing on Jan 7, 2009 12:53 am

Read More: Personal Development | Positive Thinking

At this time of year we all have those goals that we set for ourselves, the things we want to accomplish, the things we have taken a good look at and would like to change, and the visions we have for what we would like our life to look like in the coming year. Quite often many of us (myself included) loose sight by mid-March; the resolutions fall to the wayside as we go about our daily lives and tend to all the small details. Life goes on, much in the same way it always has.

I subscribe to a newsletter called Daily Om and wake up each morning to find fresh inspiration waiting for me in my e-mail (www.dailyom.com if you wanna check it out). I received this the other day and it really struck a chord so I would like to share it with you:

New Year's Resolutions: The Two Lists
A Message from DailyOM Co-Founder Scott Blum

I was fortunate to spend time with an enigmatic man named Robert during a very special period of my life. Robert taught me many things during our days together, and this time of year reminds me of one particular interaction we had.

"Now that you are becoming more aware," Robert said, "you need to begin to set goals for yourself so you don't lose the momentum you have built."

"Like New Year's resolutions?" I asked.

"That's an interesting idea," he smirked. "Let's do that."

By then I was used to his cryptic responses, so I knew something was up because of the way his eyes sparkled as he let out an impish laugh.

"Tonight's assignment is to make two lists," Robert continued. "The first is a list of all the New Year's resolutions you WANT to keep, and the second is a list of all the New Year's resolutions you WILL keep. Write the WANT List first, and when you have exhausted all of your ideas, then write the second list on another sheet of paper."

That night I went home and spent several hours working on the two lists. The WANT List felt overwhelming at first, but after a while I got into writing all the things I had always wanted to do if the burdens of life hadn't gotten in the way. After nearly an hour, the list swelled to fill the entire page and contained nearly all of my ideas of an ideal life. The second list was much easier, and I was able to quickly commit ten practical resolutions that I felt would be both realistic and helpful.

The next day, I met Robert in front of the local food Co-op, where we seemed to have most of our enlightening conversations. "Tell me about your two lists," Robert said as the familiar smirk crept onto his face.

"The first list contains all the things I SHOULD do if I completely changed my life to be the person I always wanted to be. And the second list contains all the things I COULD do by accepting my current life, and taking realistic steps towards the life I want to lead."

"Let me see the second list," he said.

I handed him the second list, and without even looking at it, he ripped the paper into tiny pieces and threw it in the nearby garbage can. His disregard for the effort I had put into the list annoyed me at first, but after I calmed down I began to think about the first list in a different light. In my heart, I knew the second list was a cop out, and the first list was the only one that really mattered.

"And now, the first list." Robert bowed his head and held out both of his hands.

I purposefully handed him the first list and held his gaze for several seconds, waiting for him to begin reading the page. After an unusually long silence, he began to crumple the paper into a ball and once again tossed it into the can without looking at it.

"What did you do that for?!" I couldn't hide my anger any longer.

Robert began to speak in a quiet and assured voice. "What you SHOULD or COULD do with your life no longer matters. The only thing that matters, from this day forward, is what you MUST do."

He then drew a folded piece of paper from his back pocket and handed it to me.

I opened it carefully, and found a single word floating in the middle of the white page:

"LOVE."

So my ONLY resolution this year is to love, love, LOVE. To be in my heart at all times; to connect with others from a place of authenticity and genuine caring; to radiate with warmth and light.

Sure, I have other goals and desires but I have a much better chance of keeping those "resolutions" if they come from my heart, if the driving force is love.

May you also be filled to the brim with love and manifest what truly comes from you heart. And may you share this love with the universe and have it reflected back to you with intensity.