Is making resolutions a custom or tradition?

Dear Editor,
A Happy New Year Guyana. The old year ultimately bade us farewell and a new year eventually greeted us. Oprah Winfrey said, “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.” This is the favourite time of the year when we toy with a word, brainstorm a thought and ponder on an action which may revolutionise, revamp or recondition our life for the new year. Yes, perhaps the most famous word which plays havoc in contemplation is “resolution,” considering all things and people being equal in a normally acceptable society. Many people do not want to advance into the New Year with the same old habits which may negate some change in order to make a positive difference, either through improvisation, addendum or discontinuation.
The word resolution denotes various meanings. The language of computer and photography links resolution to the total amount of pixels shown by a digital image expressed as width and height proportions, describing the sharpness, or clarity of the image or picture. Leaning towards the article’s content, the dictionary describes ‘resolution’ as a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner, ie, a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem. In judicial proceedings, “resolution” means a judgement or decision of the court. In reality, resolution in life is a promise to oneself. Albert Einstein wrote, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”
Is making resolution a custom or tradition? This idea has been around for a long time. Looking at the diaries of Anne Halkett in 1671, a writer and member of the Scottish gentry, she wrote biblical verses such as “I will not offend anymore.” Her page was entitled “Resolutions.” Perhaps this habit was silently cultivated even though it was not referred to as New Year´s Resolution. In 1802 the Walker´s Hibernian Magazine mentioned in an article, “The following personages have begun the year with strong resolutions, which they all solemnly pledged to keep.” Again, we see an intention for resolution in the new year.
In the 1813 Boston Newspapers January 1st edition, an article entitled “the Friday Lecture” stated: “And yet, I believe there are multitudes of people, accustomed to receive injunctions of new year resolutions, who will sin all the month of December, with a serious determination of beginning the new year with new resolutions and new behaviour and with the full belief that they shall thus expiate and wipe away all their former faults.” Two assumptions may be deduced: (1) New Year’s Resolution has been around for the past 200 years and (2) people in the early 19th century—much like those today—used them as an excuse for misbehaviour up to New Year’s Eve.
We often stumble as we consider setting a goal, what we want to achieve and the process involved. Harry Guinness writing in The New York Times had this to say: “The problem I have with resolutions is their lack of specificity. This is why my focus goes to setting personal and professional goals, since the mindset and approach to achieving a goal differs from that of a resolution. A resolution is a statement of what you want to change. For example, saving money. A goal is a statement of what you want to achieve; the steps you need to take to achieve it; and when you want to achieve it by.”
Quite often we have seen New Year’s Resolutions made and people fervently devoting their time, energy and money, desperately and consciously pursuing their commitment to maintain the desire of aspiring towards their goal. While some are successful, many fall on the way side. One possible explanation could be that we think too big without being realistic. In Guyana we say, “don`t bite what you can`t chew.” It is advisable to take little steps first before increasing the pace.
Another reason may be that we fail to explore the question of why we make this resolution and so we miss the post of repercussion. Guyanese say, “no pain, no gain.” When we experience difficulty, we quickly give up. The pain of not changing has to be greater than the pain of changing for us to really… change. As one psychologist wrote, “In order to change a behaviour, you have to be uncomfortable and nobody wants to be uncomfortable. So in order to see a lasting change, you have to be in a state of discomfort for a really long period of time.”
Are we ready for the change? A negative answer may explain failure to accomplish a resolution. We have to be prepared mentally, physically, financially, psychologically and sociologically for this bold step. How often haven’t we heard, “failing to plan, is planning to fail.” In Bly’s “Stages of Change,” the psychologist advises: pre-contemplation – become aware that there may be something to change; contemplation – thinking about making a change; preparation – start putting a plan together to make a change; action – make the change and maintenance – determine how to maintain the change.
Some familiar, formidably and famous resolutions include: losing weight, a healthy diet, exercising, quit smoking, stop drinking, making better financial choices, spending quality time with the family, find a partner, get married, join a social club, start a hobby, read wisely, upgrade education, gardening, travel and work on incomplete projects. Whatever you decide or don’t decide upon, just ensure that the choice is right, relevant and realistic.
Allow me please to take the opportunity of thanking all the newspapers for publishing these articles and the readers for reading them. A Happy New Year to everyone.

Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall