Happy New Year?

Confronting the New Year’s Resolutions

Spirit is like the wind, in that we can't see it but can see its effects, which are profound.
 - Former President Jimmy Carter 1924 – 2024

Welcome 2025, a year seared into our psyche. A year with the dubious distinction of ominous notoriety long before it began. Habitually we retain a strong desire to turn the page on the old and usher in the new no matter what. Social media is full of New Year's resolutions with the expected focus on ourselves with vows to eat healthier, exercise more, lose weight and save money at the top the list. If past years are instructive, we find these vows hard to keep. We also express the usual hopes and dreams: "Let the coming year bring you endless opportunities, new adventures and prosperity." There's even a touch of bravado: "Bring it on! 2025 will be my year."
 
Heartfelt as are these resolutions and messages, the universe does not change trajectory when we post on social media or turn the page on a calendar year. The world does not revolve around our human desires any more than the sun shines only on chosen ones. We inhabit an intricate and mysterious universe that beats to its own rhythm and systems in time and space. It is a neutral canvas that perfectly reflects the consequences of our choices. For example, if you choose to decline help and feel overwhelmed and alone, this is a direct consequence of your decision, yours alone.
 
Logic suggests this would cause us to pause when it comes to destructive behavior but logic gets lost for we are born with a constant dilemma. On one hand, we are spirits—immortal beings— on the other, we have physical bodies (stamped with expiry dates) that are demanding. So demanding we are susceptible to reactive and selfish survival-based behavior, blinding us to the needs of others. My coaching practice is full of people who need assistance with the consequences of destructive behavior, theirs, someone else's or both. This is an ongoing challenge for most. The other day I felt hungry and dinner was later than expected. I lost my temper. This created unnecessary misery including my subsequent guilt and embarrassment.
 
Focusing entirely on material wants and needs promote selfishness and create misery and conflict. This begs the question: Is it possible to live a balanced life in which you nurture your spirit while caring for your body? Is this a realistic goal in today's materialistic society where even some religious leaders preach material wealth is a sign of God's blessing? We have become so invested in the material that some companies that work to extend the human life, their projected worth at least $600 billion this year.
 
It's highly symbolic that former President Jimmy Carter departed this world when he did. The contrast between the former President's life and the current climate could not be starker. The announcement of his death on December 29th, 2024, was met with a spontaneous outpouring of love and admiration around the globe. Carter led a life dedicated to service and, even in his nineties, could be found on a ladder constructing a new home for a needy family. And yet, when he was born in Georgia in 1924, the family home had no electricity or indoor plumbing.
 
In the spirit of the late president, I pledge to approach 2025 differently. Rather than living another year of disagreements, discord and failed goals, let us all follow Carter's example and use his words to sustain and inspire. "Spirit," he once said, "is like the wind, in that we can't see it but can see its effects, which are profound."
 
Here are some alternative resolutions for the new year to sustain and uplift your spirits: Pledge to ask yourself daily: How can I be of help today? What do I have that I can share? Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?” Ask instead “What can I learn from this?” Choose to be kind, practice patience and take responsibility for your actions. Don't get discouraged; every day is a blank canvas and never too late to start to contribute.