Resolution Road -

Most of us look forward to a new year.A new year brings a new perspective,and along with it a new resolution.

Each passing year, we start, stutter and then stop...just to start again the following year.how many of us can boast of a resolution achieved? I am sure there are exceptions, but the certainly not the rule.A good majority would have made a new resolution on January1 ,2010.Some would have renewed, some engineered and some not taken at all.So why do we land up making resolutions every year?

Why not start with no resolution for a change? Read carefully. No-resolution for a change. Let us resolve to stay the same.The most common factor missing from every resolution stopped is resolve, discipline.So If one cannot resolve to keep a resolution why not have a resolve to not have a resolution? At the very least you will develop a sense of resolve and discipline.This too requires an effort.Most of us in the comfort zone, just adjust.Most of us really adjust to whatever is thrown at us...and move on. We are all gung-ho about a resolution at the beginning of the year, but as days progress we find more excuses to not follow it. That too tells a story about yourself.Don't make a resolution for the heck of it.Chances are you ll break it as soon as you created it.

There lies the root cause of "chalta- hai" or "it's ok" or "whatever" attitude. When this collective attitude adds up it forms the personality of a nation.Then how can we expect a change? That's how the people of the world identify you,your race or your country as whether or not there are exceptions.So, for those who think they are not like this,they fall under the exception category - but they too get sucked into the situation whether they like it or not.Because in the larger scheme of things, we are all one. So action is for everyone.The do'ers and the not do'ers.And unless we collectively correct this..no resolution will be resolute enough and no change will change your life enough.Yet we make it a point to crib,criticize the system for ever wrong that has happened.We criticize our leaders for not running the country properly - what are we doing about it ? We cant even run our lives properly ?

Sometimes people are like the Ostrich,with no disrespect mean't to Ostriches, who covers her head under a rock thinking that her whole body is covered as well.Unfortunately the part exposed is always the part that gets hurt.Yet we continue to crib and complain about everything..and keep doing the same thing again and again.That's how we form the fabric of our society and therefore of ourselves.

Take a random example.Just like this post. Some will read and think, this is a nice read,and forget about it.Some will think how idealistic...and move on.Some will find faults and move on and some will just read the first and last few lines and leave a comment...move on.We need to look at us first before we comment on others.

Another reason why many resolutions fail is because there is no tracker.There is no measure.We do not know what we set out to achieve whether we are close or far from it ? And where do we exactly need to improve? How can we measure that change? how can we know how we are faring against our resolutions ? I have made a list of changes I would sustain from now on - Here is an example of how one could track your resolution - read the explanation below.

Resolution	Action	Yes	No	Total
1	I will not criticize -If I cannot correct it	1	0	1
2	I will not comment - If I cannot add value	1	0	1
3	I will not give excuses - If I cannot do it.	0	1	1
4	I will not dirty -What I cannot clean	1	0	1
5	I will not discourage someone -because I cannot do it	1	0	1
6	I will not cheat because someone cheated me	1	0	1
7	I will not break a rule because I am lazy to follow it	0	1	1
8	I will not feel superior by making someone feel inferior	0	1	1
9	I will not package if I don't have content	0	2	1
10	I will not let anyone stop me	0	1	1
Grand Total	What's my score.	5	6	11

Give yourself 1 point for every Yes and No.At the end of every week, add up the score to see how you fared against your resolution index. Either there would be more number of yes - which means you are adhering to your resolution,so you could reward yourself with what you like the most. Alternatively, there could be more number of No's so you know you are defaulting, and know exactly where to improve the following week,are you willing to discipline yourself?

Even if you discontinue doing it - that also means something isn't it? Then next time you crib rant or complain you clearly know where you stand in the scheme of things. Since there is no right or wrong , true or false to this - it just tells you how your are.These simple results also tell what kind of a person you are,determined,lazy, procrastinator or simply an excuse finder,whatever maybe- you know who are, maybe you can fool the world but if you are fooling yourself,just remember the day you wake up - it is going be a very rude awakening and can happen sooner than you can imagine.This also translates to the society as a whole.If we continue to carry on our lives without resolve without any discipline ,we are setting an example for the wrong kind of a ripple effect...and as time passes by you will for sure find yourself making another attempt at making a resolution the next year.

If we as a collective society make ourselves better human beings from what we were the previous year, I think that in itself will contribute to a mass improvement. Which in turn will benefit us and make our resolve stronger,longer and effective.

Remember when you start to cycle,the first pedal is the most difficult and requires the maximum effort.But once it rolls.it becomes progressively easier.

History repeats itself because people don't learn from it.

Gyanban Thoughts - this post is simply trying to remind the reader to have an accountability system in their lives,a sense of discipline,and courage to follow what you have decided.It gives mental strength to know that you have lived up to your expectations.