WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

MenoSunday; Life Lived Lovingly

Here we are, already more than a week into 2016. On many a blog there are posts displaying 'resolutions/ goals/ wishes' for the year, in keeping with a tradition that began many centuries ago (according to the great library in the cloud!) in Babylonia. Essentially a spiritual process, the 'resolution' activity has become largely secular; almost all which have been read recently involve health and fitness, finance and contain elements of a desire for improved social involvement.

All good. What has also been observed, however, is that there are marked differences in approach to the  process. Many seem somewhat… numinous, with little chance of fruition. There are a few for which, one feels, many of the 'resolutions' will be achieved, due to the modesty of the goal, the intention behind it and the sense that the writer/s are entirely capable of following through. Expectations have been kept in control.

This is what needs to be remembered. Quite a few of the posts remarked that they were not 'doing resolutions' because they felt that this implied failure; but it has perhaps been missed that the very word itself means to make a firm decision to alter one's behaviour in order to attain a certain outcome. To have resolve is to be determined in ones' thoughts and deeds. To make New Year Resolutions, then, is to set goals of improved behaviour within ourselves with a personal commitment to carry them out, so that we can expect a raising of our nature and, consequently, a betterment of our circumstances. This process, it must be said, can be carried out each and every day and does not necessarily have to wait for a single point in any given twelve months! "Failure" simply means our resolve is weak - if so, then whatever the NYR thing is called, that part of our personality required to see things through will still be absent.

No matter how it is approached, the aim is to make one or more goals which are within reach. 'Wishes' are all good and well and may indeed be for things such as peace and harmony within the family, community, nation… but at all these levels, peace and harmony do not happen by the wishing alone - there must be resolve to be the first one setting the example of the change which is desired.

Someone rather famous said that once… &*>

Peace and harmony, which are both aspects of CeL, begin within the individual. A sufficient number of individuals living out the actuality of these things will result in a peaceable and harmonious existence and a Life Lived Lovingly.

Conversely, if every individual says "I wish…", but then does nothing to contribute to the manifestation of that desire, things will only remain the same - or worsen. How worsen? Many who stay in the 'wish' category are also often those who have the expectation that the external environment ought to change without any effort from themselves and that it ought to support them in established, albeit sometimes very negative, behaviours. Such hypocrisy is one of the greatest pitfalls of the personality.

One of the best and most achievable of goals is the resolve to learn at least one new thing each and every day. The next goal is to resolve to utilise what is learned by application in life. This can be as mundane as learning that, to open a blister pack of batteries, the use of a can opener can save the fingers from damage, all the way up to reading a philosophical passage or some scriptural verses and pondering the wisdom contained therein, then seeking to utilise the increased understanding in our daily interaction. This is the original source of 'resolutions', and arguably, the only kind required for all other goals to come to fruition. It is in the improvement and enlargement of our personality that we become stronger and more focused and, therefore, capable of working through the things which will indeed raise our nature and better our circumstance.

Wishing you all the very best and blessings with your own NYRs!




8 comments:

  1. Great post! Yes, wishes don't usually get one too far. Mom keeps wishing it was warm outside!

    Keep Calm & Bark On!

    Murphy & Stanley

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  2. Your words ring true.
    I try to learn something new, find out about the things around me.
    It's been a dreary day here, again, but I cannot complain. It sounds, as you say, lie bonnie Scotland, sans snow! It's a mucky, muddy mess!
    I am at 6s and 9s, however. Just not sure where else my journey leads!
    cheerio! xx

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  3. Great post, I do have goals I would like to meet all the time. I wish you all the best with your resolutions. Have a happy Sunday and new week ahead!

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  4. One thing I wrote down and had handy when Barkley was ill was this, from the book of common prayer.

    From the Book of Common Prayer.

    "This is another day, Lord . .
    if I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely.
    If I am to still still, help me to sit quietly.
    If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently.
    And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly."

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  5. Good idea but I never make them always forget to for some reason, but always open to new ideas and like to try new things.
    I really wish all was right with the world .
    Merle...........,

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  6. We need to make plans to change and not wishes!

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  7. My mother only planned to reduce her ice cream cemetery a little bit... the miracle happened, mission completed after just one week. I thought now we will have an easy 2016, but sadly she currently starts to stuff herself with chocolate and sweet things.... probably to have a new goal this year... to reduce the ice cream cemetery... humans are crazy...

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  8. I specifically didn't make 'resolutions' because I have never really been able to pull them off. But a plan sounded better and I hope I will be able to accomplish at least part of the plan. As resolute as I can!

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