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The Idea
I am not a big fan of new year's resolutions. Naturally, I don't even try to set any.
There is a fundamental problem with resolutions why they don't work most of the time.
The notion that one likes to achieve something a few months or years down the line seems very odd. How do you know your feelings, perspective, worldview, and experience would remain the same a few months or years down the line? People change with time.
Do you think exactly the same way today as you used to be 2-3 years back?
I am sure you don't.
It is just like the way a kid wants to be a pilot at the age of 5, an actor at the age of 10, a doctor at the age of 12, and a scientist at the age of 15.
Our perceptions change all the time with our new experiences.
Instead, my suggestion is to slow down and enjoy the things at hand. Live a slow life. Do things at your own pace. Live with a sense of gratitude.
Don't make the to-do list your life. Those to-do lists will never end.
You probably thinking 'If I live a slow life, how I am gonna achieve all those things that I want before 30 or 40?'
When it comes to productivity, many people assume that the faster you can do something, the more productive you are.
However, numerous research has shown that people who do things at their own pace (without caring how fast it could be done) are usually more productive in the long run.
A phenomenon Cal Newport calls slow productivity.
By slowing down, you will not only do things more effectively but also improve your satisfaction level in life.
No matter what your material goal is, be it a raise in salary, a better position, or something else. You should accept the fact that no material goal (if fulfilled) could bring you peace and contentment.
That doesn't mean we should stop striving for them. It's just that it's better to realize the truth in the beginning, to not get too attached to your material goal.
It's our duty (or dharma) to work for the betterment of our family. Striving for material affluence is one of our duties. At the same time, it is up to us to not get attached to our materialistic goals.
Have a vision for your life but don't get caught up in the goals of your life. Think more about what kind of experiences you want to have in the next 5 or 10 years than just how much you must earn.
We have become so busy in our lives that many of us don't even remember when is the last time we observed the color of tree leaves, heard the sound of birds, or sound of flowing water.
This year, take a step back and introspect a little more about your aspirations, goals, and if they are aligned with the values in your life.
And only when you would slow down a bit, you could do that.
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