Probably all of us have made resolutions to make 2010 a good year. The questions are why do we do it and is it worthwhile.

The beginning of a new year always creates a feeling of renewal, refreshing and a new start. There is an excitement about new possibilities and new opportunities. There is also a strong feeling of ‘turning a new leaf’, the need to change some of our behaviours and attitudes which we don’t like. This leads to the general tendency to make New Year’s resolutions.

To make a resolution is to aim, to decide, to intend, to resolve. We make resolutions to achieve specific goals or to change ourselves. This is all good. Making New Year’s resolutions, however, is, generally speaking, an exercise in futility. In the spirit of celebration and the euphoria of a new year ahead we decide that this is the time to set goals or to improve ourselves. This is done with good intentions but, as the New Year’s spirit fades so does our commitment to attain our resolutions. By the end of January, generally speaking, the New Year’s resolutions are forgotten and life goes on as before. New Year’s resolutions are not really worthwhile.

There is a far better way to achieve our goals and to improve our behaviours and attitudes. It is based on only two positive words.

When we were toddlers our parents told us, “You can! You can!” They also said that we must always say to ourselves, “I can! I can!” That was good and positive. It helped us to become able to do things. It gave us self-confidence.

As adults we have much bigger challenges in our lives. We have goals we want to achieve. On the road to these goals there are bound to be obstacles, challenges, sharp turns, steep inclines, potholes and dead ends. We reach points that are outside our comfort zones. When we come across these obstacles we often still say to ourselves in our minds, “I can! I can! I can overcome this challenge.” This is a waste of time and energy because we are trying to convince ourselves that we can. Then there is also ‘Mr. Doubt’ or ‘Ms. Doubt’ whispering in our ears. “Do you think you can? Can you really do it? What if?”

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There are two words that are much stronger than the words “I can!” They are the words ’I will!’ Instead of saying, “I can!” we should say, “I will!”

The two little words, ‘I will!’ have tremendous power. The moment we say, “I will!” we immediately feel the energy flowing through the mind and the body. With ‘I will!’ the resolve is immediate. We don’t have to convince ourselves that we can. We are committed.  We know that we will reach that goal.

The two words, ‘I will!’ are even more powerful. ‘The two words have five letters and each letter has a powerful positive meaning.

The first I stands for Integrity

Integrity means to be honest, to say what we mean, to mean what we say, to be true to our values and to be ourselves.

W stands for Work

No goal is ever achieved without work, effort, sweat, late nights and even pain. When we accept this the work becomes a joyful journey towards the goal.

The second I stands for Initiative

To have initiative means to set our own goals in life and not to wait for other people to set our goals for us. It means to start acting on our own without having to be prompted. We take initiative to find the most effective ways to reach our goals.

First L stand for Learning

Continuous learning and acting upon our knowledge is the sure way to reach our goals. We learn more about everything related to our goals and also more about other things that interest and enrich us.

The second L stands for Love

Love has many facets. There is the love for God and the love of God, the love for family and friends, the love for people in need, the love for our work, the love for nature, the love for Campbell River and much more. Love is the most powerful positive force of all.

Why wait for New Year to make New Year’s resolutions which mostly fail? We can enforce our resolutions every day by saying:

Today I will exercise my integrity in everything I do. .

Today I will work hard to reach my goals.

Today I will take new initiatives.

Today I will learn something new.

Today I will approach the day with love in my heart.

By applying the words, ‘I will!’ every day we will have continuous renewal throughout the year. ‘I will!’ with the five letters is a formula for attaining our resolutions and to serve the needs of our community in Campbell River.

Phil Minnaar