new year- new resolutions.
January 10, 2010
A new year has started, and as usual, as every year, I made my resolutions and told my friends. I believe that telling others what your goals and aims are somehow pressurizes you into fulfilling them, if you have the undeniable urge not to dissappoint people ;)
Wikipedia says that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. But is that a reason for us to be hopeless? Is that enough information to give up our need to set aims and goals and persistantly try to fulfill them, even though we might fail?
My dad always used to tell me that a man who tries everything and fails is better than a man who tries nothing an succeeds. And as much as I hate to admit that my dad is right about something ;) , I believe that is true.
A problem in our generation, a generation in which we are defined by success and achievement- a true meritocracy- is that we have a fear of failure. We can’t make plans or set ourselves goals or have ambitions without the risk of failing.
Realizing this, I ask myself: Why is our generation so hopeless? Look at the past, situations where failure wasn’t just an option, but a highly probable option. Did that hinder those idealists? The 1060s- all the movement, all the passion to change the world! Or during Apartheid- where people stood up, inspiring personalities were brought forth, even though the situation seemed so hopeless. Or the in the 1980s- the Monday demonstrations where more than 70.000 people stood up, to demonstrate against the wall in Germany. Generations before us, that were inspired and passionate to change the world and believed in themselves.
But where do we stand? What are the students of Germany doing right now? Demonstrating against too many exams! Against lectures that are held in rooms that are a little too small!! What a waste of time!
Do we need big catastrophes and great injustice to show our potential? We have the capacity to make a difference, even in our little ways, and maybe change someone elses life with that.
And yet, the little changes, a small change in our lives, in form of a resolution, aren’t made. Something so easy for us to fulfill, if we work hard and continue to remind ourselves.
So here is my proposition: Let’s take the problems that have been caused by lack of integrity and our other weaknesses, and try to change that this year. Let’s pick something, that will actually have an effect!
Pick your poison ;)
1) I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life this year
2) I will take my Studies seriously and work hard this year
3) I will try and make at least one person smile every day this year
4) I will not break any hearts this year
5) I will not let my craving for individuality let me become an egoist this year
6) I will be brave this year
7) I will not put my own pleasure and happiness before that of others this year
8) And I will not, I repeat: I will NOT stop trying to make the world a better place. Ever.
:)
(thanks to henrike tullius for her support on this article, and in every other aspect of my life:)
