Did you know that according to one publication, approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February? And that according to another publication only 8% of the people who admit they make new year’s resolutions are successful in achieving their goals?
But why would we fail so miserably in something that is actually such an old practice?
The quick video below gives you the history of new year’s resolutions along with four very important criteria.
No matter what your resolutions are, make sure they follow the above four criteria and you will have a much higher chance of succeeding.
Video Guide
For your viewing pleasure, look for the CC button on the video, click on it and you will have subtitles. 🙂
To learn more about Ayurveda & The Mind, choose one of Yoga Energy School’s online self-paced courses, or in person trainings at https://squareup.com/store/training-courses
Resources on God Janus
- Canvas Sculpture of Janus: amzn.to/2RoEjw9
- Janus in Roman Life and Cult, A Study in Roman Religions: amzn.to/2LFuzsk
- Janus in Modern Life: amzn.to/2LGlwY2
- Janus: A Summing Up: amzn.to/2RuD7aY
Gear Mentioned or Used on Our Videos and Podcasts
- Swanwick Blue-Light Blocking Sunglasses: https://amzn.to/2x34r75
- Lavalier Mic for iPhone and Smarphones: https://amzn.to/2IC5cJM
- Logitech Bluetooth Wireless Headset: https://amzn.to/2s1Iikx
Until next time much, much love from both of us!
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Na’maste kala! Which in Greek means: May we all be well!
Video Transcript
WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.770 Hi everyone! I would like to talk to you about resolutions, the most famous of 00:00:07.770 --> 00:00:13.860 them being the New Year's resolutions. The failure rate of New Year's 00:00:13.860 --> 00:00:21.750 resolutions is astonishing. According to one publication approximately 80% of 00:00:21.750 --> 00:00:27.930 resolutions fail by the second week of February. According to another 00:00:27.930 --> 00:00:35.219 publication only 8% of the people who admit they make New Year's resolutions 00:00:35.219 --> 00:00:44.160 are successful in achieving their goals. But why would we fail so miserably in 00:00:44.160 --> 00:00:55.050 something that is actually such an old practice? Old? Yes very old. New Year's 00:00:55.050 --> 00:01:01.399 resolutions is a custom that dates 4000 years back to the ancient Babylonians. 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:07.770 The ancient Babylonians were celebrating the beginning of the new year 00:01:07.770 --> 00:01:13.830 which for them was around mid-march based on the spring equinox with 00:01:13.830 --> 00:01:20.960 elaborate festivals. During this time the people would also commit to becoming 00:01:20.960 --> 00:01:26.130 better by making personal promises to the Gods. 00:01:26.130 --> 00:01:32.180 This way they knew that they would definitely be held accountable. 00:01:32.180 --> 00:01:40.200 This practice passed on to ancient Rome in a slightly different context. The 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:46.950 Romans were celebrating the beginning of the new year in January the month named 00:01:46.950 --> 00:01:55.549 in honor of God Janus. Janus is the Roman God of doorways archways 00:01:55.549 --> 00:02:02.670 beginnings and endings usually depicted with two faces one looking forward and 00:02:02.670 --> 00:02:09.009 the other backwards. The Romans honored Janus before any other God 00:02:09.009 --> 00:02:16.920 no matter the occasion, and made promises to him for good behavior during 00:02:16.920 --> 00:02:23.680 January's New Year celebration. So what happened? Why are we failing? Several 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:31.120 reasons. Number one, we are not looking for practices that are simple. We seem to 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:39.489 have forgotten the Latin origin of the word resolution, which meant a process of 00:02:39.489 --> 00:02:48.040 reducing things into simpler forms, resolutionem. We make things too 00:02:48.040 --> 00:02:56.440 complicated. Number two, we are afraid to get out of our comfort zone. We look for 00:02:56.440 --> 00:03:04.709 things that are easy. Easy does not keep us interested, easy does not render 00:03:04.709 --> 00:03:13.540 results. Without results we become bored and quit. We need to take on practices 00:03:13.540 --> 00:03:20.139 that challenge us enough to make a difference but not too much. So we need 00:03:20.139 --> 00:03:24.940 something that won't kill us but that will make us stronger. 00:03:24.940 --> 00:03:34.180 We need hormetic resolutions. Number three, very often we confuse resolutions 00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:40.750 with long-term goals. Resolutions have to be something that we can implement right 00:03:40.750 --> 00:03:48.549 away something whose results we can measure on a weekly basis, if not on a 00:03:48.549 --> 00:03:58.500 daily basis. Time is our most valuable asset. Our resolution should not be 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:10.299 wasting our most valuable asset. And last but not least, our resolutions have to be 00:04:10.299 --> 00:04:18.070 time tested. Whether they involve nutrition fitness meditative practices 00:04:18.070 --> 00:04:22.640 social behaviors mental training spiritual training 00:04:22.640 --> 00:04:31.290 nature business practices we need to know the history behind them. Just 00:04:31.290 --> 00:04:38.730 because an Instagram sensation advocates a practice it does not mean it should be 00:04:38.730 --> 00:04:48.950 worth our time. Here at Spartan Mind Strength, we use simple hormetic 00:04:48.950 --> 00:04:59.100 implementable and time-tested techniques. We use SHITT that works. Get the 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:07.230 acronym? So no matter what your resolutions are make sure they follow 00:05:07.230 --> 00:05:15.110 the above four criteria and you will have a much higher chance of succeeding. 00:05:15.110 --> 00:05:21.240 To learn more about Spartan mind strength subscribe to our podcast. The 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:28.190 link is in the notes below. Namaste kala! May we all be well! And 00:05:28.190 --> 00:05:35.480 until next time much much love from both of us.
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What is your new year’s resolution? 🙂