Resolution. Resolve. Solvency.
Twenty thirteen has been here.
It's been fun to read all of the different approaches to resolutions including some more me time, a checklist of sorts, a top ten, good framing advice, and a reminder that we all fail a little bit.
Goal setting is a thing. I do this thing. I resolve to do a new project, a new task, a new skill, or incorporate a new attitude pretty consistently. This is a thing. It is also a consistent thing that I am not consistent. I look at it as overshoot. I even wrote about it in 2008. I still believe that I overshoot or undershoot and then oscillate, and then (when lucky) meet the goal or just barely miss, but regardless, I improve. This is the hardest thing for me to remember: that even if I don't reach a goal, the striving toward it will lead to improvement.
Solvency is termed (usually for finance or business) to define the degree to which assets exceed liabilities. This year, one of the things I'd like to do is be a little more real about my solvency. It is fair to say that I have a good idea of some of my assets and liabilities. (Liability seems a serious and heavy word.) I think the only way for me to do this without spiraling into despair, is to ask for some divine intervention on my behalf. I'm reminded of this scripture in Ether:
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)
And I love that. I love that the Lord cherishes all of us that much. The Lord didn't give us weaknesses at all. All too often it seems, we miss being able to see the weaknesses. But here, he shows us our weaknesses and hopes that we CHOOSE to come unto him and have faith so that we can be made whole.
Keeping in line with the examples of my favorite bloggers from above, I too have made some resolutions.
1) In an effort to tie up loose ends and eliminate "rollover" you will finish a majority of the things you have started. For example, finishing learning French and practicing with my brother, running a 10k, going camping, buying a bike, putting that final polish on my resume, research statement, research proposals and teaching philosophy and applying for jobs, and other countless large and small "projects" that I've started but just haven't quite finished.
2) Come up with a handful of sentences that remind you to live better. I think that one of the things in "The Happiness Project" that really made sense to me was this. I already have two of them, which are ones that I have borrowed.
A) When in doubt, always make the positive argument.
B) You often have a lot of information and perspective, but you are NOT always right.
3) Deepen your family relationships. I am so blessed with five amazingly unique brilliant talented siblings. Five of them! I believe families are forever. Even though we have eternity to work on being kinder and nicer and more loving, why not start now? Today. Yesterday even. This goes for my parents, to whom I owe so much, have learned from so much and sometimes it seems, have given back so little.
4) Read more from scriptures, classics, or fiction. Also, pray. You are on a hiatus of any book that has to do with how the brain works, decision making, happiness, or anything remotely pop-psych. Make a list. Read them next year.
Above all, if I miss, I miss, but I get a whole lot closer to the target for trying than for not trying at all.
Twenty thirteen.
It's been fun to read all of the different approaches to resolutions including some more me time, a checklist of sorts, a top ten, good framing advice, and a reminder that we all fail a little bit.
Goal setting is a thing. I do this thing. I resolve to do a new project, a new task, a new skill, or incorporate a new attitude pretty consistently. This is a thing. It is also a consistent thing that I am not consistent. I look at it as overshoot. I even wrote about it in 2008. I still believe that I overshoot or undershoot and then oscillate, and then (when lucky) meet the goal or just barely miss, but regardless, I improve. This is the hardest thing for me to remember: that even if I don't reach a goal, the striving toward it will lead to improvement.
Solvency is termed (usually for finance or business) to define the degree to which assets exceed liabilities. This year, one of the things I'd like to do is be a little more real about my solvency. It is fair to say that I have a good idea of some of my assets and liabilities. (Liability seems a serious and heavy word.) I think the only way for me to do this without spiraling into despair, is to ask for some divine intervention on my behalf. I'm reminded of this scripture in Ether:
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)
And I love that. I love that the Lord cherishes all of us that much. The Lord didn't give us weaknesses at all. All too often it seems, we miss being able to see the weaknesses. But here, he shows us our weaknesses and hopes that we CHOOSE to come unto him and have faith so that we can be made whole.
Keeping in line with the examples of my favorite bloggers from above, I too have made some resolutions.
1) In an effort to tie up loose ends and eliminate "rollover" you will finish a majority of the things you have started. For example, finishing learning French and practicing with my brother, running a 10k, going camping, buying a bike, putting that final polish on my resume, research statement, research proposals and teaching philosophy and applying for jobs, and other countless large and small "projects" that I've started but just haven't quite finished.
2) Come up with a handful of sentences that remind you to live better. I think that one of the things in "The Happiness Project" that really made sense to me was this. I already have two of them, which are ones that I have borrowed.
A) When in doubt, always make the positive argument.
B) You often have a lot of information and perspective, but you are NOT always right.
3) Deepen your family relationships. I am so blessed with five amazingly unique brilliant talented siblings. Five of them! I believe families are forever. Even though we have eternity to work on being kinder and nicer and more loving, why not start now? Today. Yesterday even. This goes for my parents, to whom I owe so much, have learned from so much and sometimes it seems, have given back so little.
4) Read more from scriptures, classics, or fiction. Also, pray. You are on a hiatus of any book that has to do with how the brain works, decision making, happiness, or anything remotely pop-psych. Make a list. Read them next year.
Above all, if I miss, I miss, but I get a whole lot closer to the target for trying than for not trying at all.
Twenty thirteen.
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