BLADE MAGAZINE of Long Beach, Laguna Beach & San Diego,
January 2006
Spirituality Column
Successful Resolutions
By Rev. Rosalind Russell
Resolutions are
remarkably important to each of us. The New Year is a time to set out our goals
and plans as we would like them to unfold. In history we know that successful
people set goals and stay fixed on their plans to attainment. If a goal is not
real, it will not be attainable. When we don’t have a plan to arrive to each
goal, we most likely won’t get there. Planning the strategy is also important
for realistic resolutions.
For years I have
been making resolutions. In my early adult life I started saving the list in a
file with the date for that year. From time to time I look to see what I thought
interesting enough to put on my list. When looking over these past resolutions,
I found that only the things where I provided a plan ever came to be.
Further, the
lists begin with God leading me—not blindly, as I am certain this is a
cooperative effort. God gives me the idea, and I do the work. The sooner I drop
my resistance to the difficulties, things go smoother (note I did not say
“smoothly.”) But I am able to continue forward on any and all goals as I am
partnered with a never-fails-me-God on this adventure of mine on earth to be in
service, which does not exclude me from serving “me” with healthy plans for
my body, mind and soul/emotional being too.
I liken this to being on an
airplane with a young child when the oxygen masks drop. Do I put the mask first
on the child or on myself? The answer is of course, upon myself first so that I
am able to secure the child’s mask without passing out and dying before
getting the child to deal with the mask correctly. In other words, to help the
child live, I have to make sure to take care of myself first. I believe this is
so in most of life with few exceptions.
Sounds simple to trust and to serve,
but it goes against some things we have learned. To freely give without
expecting a return is a mighty hurdle to get over for most of us. Every one can
achieve giving; from giving money to actually doing something for someone such
as painting their house or washing their dishes.
We get to do something to create the
world we wish to live in with this years resolutions rather than listing
‘winning the lotto first; dropping weight, tightening the abs; job
advancement; elected cosmetic surgery a fabulous love life’ and so on. We can
choose to place God first and express it in how we give out in the world as well
as balancing ourselves well. We don’t have to have a long list to aim at, but
with God on it first with service we will get things we once dared not consider
as attainable. Is this how you have set your resolutions in the past? Bet you
attained each resolution if so.
Have I ever set a goal I didn’t
achieve? Sure. I even set the same goals a few times and failed a few more
times. What did I get out of that? I learned that some goals are not going to
come about because they are not planned well enough, or simply they are not the
right goals for me. I readjust those goals and if appropriate, replace them with
something else. With writing resolutions for the New Year, I find that some of
the things I ‘want’ are not right for me and those get removed. In other
words, it is hard to fail at resolutions when you understand they can be removed
and replaced when they don’t work, not because I was lazy and didn’t stay
with them. Obviously to set a resolution is not to scribble a few things on a
scrap of paper. It takes real thought and action.
Resolutions are not to stress us,
but to “stretch” us, to help us become all the more, and to enjoy life
better as well. The New Year is a perfect time to direct our lives with a fresh
nsider placing God at the top of the list and see the magic take place with more
ease than ever before. Go ahead, have fun and just do it!
Rev. Rosalind Russell is an ordained
minister who generally works with unchurched people, so she is “interfaith”
or without barriers. She has a prayer group, and will gladly take any prayer
request. Her work includes Holy Unions; marriages; baptism & dedication
ceremonies; blessings for homes and businesses; funerals and memorials; and
counseling on a spiritual level for individuals and couples.