Living a life of meaning and purpose is more than a declaration inspired by a deep seated yearning; that’s a 20th century New Year’s resolution. To be on-course and fully live the potential of your life, a little self-knowledge, good habits, a dose of curiosity and a thirst for learning goes a long way.
It has been many years since I prepared a list of resolutions. Making a New Year’s resolution is a tradition where a person resolves to break an old habit and promises to perform acts of self-improvement, like exercise more, or be more kind. There was a time when I felt compelled to draft resolutions so that I might have some good answers when the inevitable question came up in conversation at work or at a party. Ultimately, after years of broken promises to myself, I stopped. No one really cares whether you make promises to yourself or if you keep them. The people in your life have a sense of your character by how you act, the company you keep, and what you’ve accomplished. Ask them. You’ll find your actions speak louder than your words.
Why set resolutions if the odds are against you? Not wanting to fail or break a promise is a plausible reason for abandoning a tradition that has its roots in Babylonia dating back to the 23rd century BC. The Babylonians promised their gods they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts at the start of each year. The Romans, one of the largest and most influential empires of the world for over 12 centuries, continued the tradition in the 8th century BC. They started each year with promises to their god Janus, our month of January.
In Europe during the Middle Ages (5th to 15th centuries), the knights continued the tradition and took a peacock vow to reaffirm their commitment to chivalry at the end of each year. There are similar practices in Judaism beginning with Rosh Hashanah and culminating in Yom Kippur. In Christianity, the practice of New Year’s resolutions partially came from the Lenten Sacrifices.
In the 20th century, we continued to practice this 4000 year old tradition by setting self-improvement goals at the beginning of the New Year. Yet, despite the fact that the success rate for following through on one’s promise for self-improvement is very low, 40% of American adults in the 21st century declared New Year’s resolutions compared with 25% of adults at the end of the Great Depression in the mid-late 1930’s. Intrigued, I studied the traditions and practices of the Babylonians and Romans, it seems we shortened the 4000 year old methodology and in the process minimized the potential for our life’s work and fulfillment.
Members of the 21st century global tribe, like tribes from the beginning of man, have an innate desire for meaning and purpose. I find it ironic that we can go to the moon, build a global community and purchase anything we want without ever leaving the comfort of our home; yet many of us hold onto old traditions that clearly can’t keep pace with our individual need to evolve.
This month, I honor the four thousand year old tradition by charting a 21st century path-to-purpose so that we may own our development and fulfill our potential. After all, if I can’t keep promises to myself, how can I possibly honor my commitments and promises to my family, friends and global tribe? Join us when you want, take what is useful and leave the rest.