I’ve been fortunate and blessed to see 28 new years in my lifetime.
And while I probably didn’t understand what was going on for the first 5 (my daughter’s kindergarten class is currently studying time relationships… i.e. – today, yesterday, last week, last year, next year, tomorrow, next week), I’ve been cognizant of at least 20 of them.
And so, for at least 20 years, I’ve seen how excited we get about the New Year. We make resolutions. We make goals. We make decisions to cut off or cut out things that are not good for us. We set out to lose weight, increase our productivity, make more money, reach a lifelong dream, etc.
And that’s all good and fine. It’s certainly better than not having a recurring reminder.
But I’ve noticed each and every year, this excitement wears down. Momentum slows. And soon, we’re back to our old self.
So ponder this question:
“It’s a New Year but what are you CURRENTLY doing to ensure a New You?”
And more importantly, what needs to happen to ensure the New You sticks?
One thing I know for sure is that time operates with or without us. Every year, every day, every hour, every minute — heck, every second is a unique miracle you’ve never seen before… an opportunity to make a decision to be a “NEW YOU.”
A NEW YOU that is always “becoming.”
A NEW YOU that is always “progressing.”
A NEW YOU that is always “growing.”
A NEW YOU that is always “learning.”
A NEW YOU that is always “loving.”
A NEW YOU that is always “forgiving.”
A NEW YOU that is always “striving.”
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
-Ezekiel 36:26
It starts with a decision.
A real decision.
What’s a real decision?
It’s when you make it hard to revert back to before the decision was made.
The word “decision” comes from the latin word dēcīsiō, which literally means “a cutting off.” Or decidere, which means “to cut off.”
When you make a real decision, you literally cut off all other options.
If that decision is to stop smoking, you throw away anything remotely related to smoking. Any item that will cause you to recidivate or relapse. You even go as far as to proclaim to other individuals that you’ve stopped smoking and if they ever see or smell the scent on you, they are free to embarrass, call you out, scorn you, etc.
If that decision is to improve your piano playing, you tell a spouse or friend that if you have not completed a predetermined goal (that can easily be described or perhaps demonstrated to them on youtube so they know what to expect), you will either give them your piano or keyboard or sell it and give the proceeds to them or charity. Or worse, book yourself a gig in front of a “real” audience months into the future with a penalty for not being able to perform when the time comes.
I know these examples sound silly but the point is — make it hurt.
When have you known for a “cut” not to hurt? If you accidentally cut yourself with scissors (which is related to the same decision word… like “incision”), it’s likely gonna hurt.
Cuts hurt.
And so when you make real decisions, they hurt.
Not necessarily in the physical realm. But it may be emotional, spiritual, psychological, mental.
As humans, we don’t like change. The elements that operate the body like maintaining homeostasis (it’s vital). We’d rather keep things the same. That’s how we are.
So when you make a real decision, it hurts.
Fake decisions or delusional “New Year” hype won’t hurt… and therefore won’t last.
Real decisions are about cutting off all other options. Heck, Will Smith said it best: “There’s no reason to have a Plan B because it distracts from Plan A.” Now, that’s a real decision!
In closing, a quote from the the 1937 classic, “Think and Grow Rich”:
A long while ago, a great warrior faced a situation which made it necessary for him to make a decision which insured his success on the battlefield. He was about to send his armies against a powerful foe, whose men outnumbered his own. He loaded his soldiers into boats, sailed to the enemy’s country, unloaded soldiers and equipment, then gave the order to burn the ships that had carried them. Addressing the men before the first battle, he said, “You see the boats going up in smoke. That means that we cannot leave these shores unless we win! We now have no choice—we win—or we perish!”
They won.
Decide and you will win too.
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