Another annual list-maker is my vow to be more productive in regards to my writing. But here's the thing, I can write thirty pages in a day, and some nagging voice will tell me that I could have striven for thirty-five. I've come to accept that I will never be satisfied with my output, yet every year I will vow to improve.
Then there are those nebulous goals of being less selfish and being an overall nicer person. They are things I really can't measure, but I try to achieve them all the same.
In addition to those yearly goals, I have a master list. It's a list I came up with in 2006 of eight things I vow to accomplish eventually. Up until this year, I had only checked off one item on that list, "Make a First Sale." This year, I was able to check off another, "Travel Abroad."
I know there is a psychology behind making these lists. For me, the joy always comes in the sense of accomplishment I feel when I can finally draw a line through one of the items. But, as with so many things, it isn't just getting to that destination, it's also about the journey. I always learn a bit more about myself as I work toward my resolutions. More often than not, I learn that I can do so much more when I focus and don't allow my inner fear to slow me down. Even when I don't reach my ultimate goal, the satisfaction that comes from knowing that I gave it my best shot is something I cherish.
For those of you who make resolutions, tell me the reasons why. You don't have to share your actual resolutions, but I do want to know why you feel compelled to make them.
6 comments:
I always make them to better myself. I have been 100% successful on them all! They include: stop drinking (I did not drink much, but I stopped even socially), stop cursing (successful for years, then I started back this year), attend church regularly. For 2011 it's to not buy any new clothes all year! The hardest ever. This year I would not buy any new workout DVDs and have succeeded, well, the year is not over yet, but I can make it another week.
Around my mid 40s I stopped making resolutions simply because I never really carried them out for very long. Plus I kind of learned to live with what I do and how I do it, and know it's just my way these days.
I make resolutions to face up to my many bad habits, acknowledge them, and work to change them. Also, I set goals for my writing to keep me on track.
To quit from smoking and drinking would be the most difficult new year's resolution I'll be working on.
I hadn't made resolutions since I was nineteen, until last year. Sometime in the future I would blog about that resolution and the outcome.
Still not satisfied. I'm still massaging my resolutions into a workable list.
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