I think we could all use a little more resolve. I'm unsure why so many disparage the idea of a resolution. Isn't it nothing more than a self assessment and expressed desire for improvement? Given our universal imperfection, it makes sense to me that the tradition of doing this practice every January has manifested. I would expect that any humble soul who willingly concedes their imperfection and who wants to see their state improved would welcome such an idea, yet, it seems that the, "new years resolution" is mostly frowned upon.
Certainly one can point to the largely unsuccessful track record in their own history with resolutions. They could argue that most of the time, people don't follow through; that their ambition on January 1st seems dishonest when they putter out in March. I'll concede that setting goals is a difficult practice, but I will not bail on it altogether. What is the opposite of expressed desire for change? Isn't it contentment with one's current state? Don't let the dishonesty of others turn you away from the benefits of your own introspection.
Maybe it is that people claim other avenues for their goal-setting. If that is the case, wouldn't they still praise the practice? Or maybe they have rendered those in January taboo while others are okay. Why brush off the helpful delineation of a period of time? Maybe they are lost to the idea that a person can declare a resolve for something and actually mean it.
Jonathan Edwards' resolutions have been an inspiration for me since college. I keep a copy of them in my notes for regular perusal. A personal favorite:
Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
I'm sure he did not hold to all 70 of them perfectly. The point was to regularly remind himself of his own convictions. I also want to be reminded of things that I've previously resolved to do, and by doing so, revive my resolve. Reminding ourselves of thoughts that we have thought is just a necessity in the human experience. We forget. That's something we are great at.
I've expanded slightly on Edwards' tradition and categorized my thoughts into three categories: resolutions, realizations, and perplexities. I keep a running list of each. This categorization arose from me finding that many of the things I was adding to my, "resolutions" were not really that. Sometimes they were just non-actionable, "realizations" yet I wanted to remember them anyway. Sometimes I just wanted to document a question that I couldn't find the answer for. I appreciate looking back on them. Each one is meant as a concise reminder of a particular set of experiences in my life that taught me a lesson. Because of that, they are necessarily tailored to me, and probably won't have a strong effect on others.
Conclusion
If you don't have any desire to see your life improved, well, I'm not sure I can help. If you do find yourself harboring a desire to see change in your life, write down specific goals! Read them every week. Tell others to hold you accountable. Listen to your past self. Have some resolve! This is humility. This is action. This is determination. This is growth. If you are a christian, this is sanctification.
I think we could all use a little more resolve.