Two weeks ago I wrote about ways to ensure success with your resolutions. This week I want to look at ways to think differently about resolutions. 

The previous article was focused mainly on resolutions that involve doing something new or different – achieving goals with work or money, exercising regularly, creating art, etc. Now I want to explore resolutions that focus on who you want to be. 

First, to clarify, there’s nothing wrong with pursuing abundance and personal excellence. It’s probably worthwhile to avoid getting attached to the money and possessions you acquire or becoming overly identified with your achievements, but these pursuits, especially if they serve a higher cause, provide satisfaction and support happiness. And of course, what you do also demonstrates and reinforces who you are. 

But external forms of achievement can’t satisfy us forever. Eventually we must respond to the prompting of our souls – to stretch and expand, to be an ever-greater expression of our divine potential. 

In some ways, as we get older it’s simply not possible to do better than before – to play a better game of tennis, to have more sales, or to get more done in a day – but we can always be better. 

By “being better” I don’t mean to trigger any stories of “not good enough” or to feed the ego’s attachment to some meaningless measure of superiority. By betterment, I mean more fully embodying our virtues. I mean consciously choosing what kind of person we want to be and being that person. 

Here are some examples of being a better version of ourselves: 

• Being present to the here-and-now for as much of our waking life as possible. 

• Listening and holding space for others. 

• Accepting each moment gracefully. 

• Being more forgiving. 

• Letting go more readily. 

• Embodying peace. 

• Treating ourselves and others with benevolence. 

• Speaking the truth – when kind and necessary, with purpose, and when it improves upon the silence. 

• Being generous and helpful. 

• Being an enhancement to our environment. 

• Living in a way that is harmonious with nature. 

• Being a clearer channel for Love. 

Obviously, there’s some doing involved in that list, but the being has to come first. 

Who do you choose to be? I always enjoy hearing from you. 

Love, 

Peter