It seems every year we start out with good intentions to change our behavior through New Year’s resolutions.  A new year gives us a tabula rasa, a fresh start, so we resolve to do better only to find that by the time February rolls around we’ve reverted back to our old ways.  Why does this happen?

Often times our New Year’s resolutions involve a behavioral change we may not be prepared to make.  For example, if you made some resolutions to eat more ice cream and candy or spend more time surfing the internet you could do that without a great deal of effort.  You probably wouldn’t feel good about yourself but it comes naturally.  And that is the key – what comes naturally to you?

We spend so much time doing that we neglect our being and therein lies the problem.  We tend to focus on outward behaviors rather than our inward character that is the structural foundation for those changes.  You must become the kind of person who naturally does those types of behaviors.  The problem is that we are often reluctant to take on that much change or the effort it takes.

But here’s the good news – if you’re willing to make those fundamental changes involving being you will discover that the doing often takes care of itself and the change will be long lasting.  That’s why Saint Augustine could say, “Love God and do as you please” the person who loves God will naturally do what is right.   Resolutions are fine but make sure you’re not neglecting the being component that enables you to make the outward changes.  When change from the heart you’ll be able to exclaim with the Psalmist, “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). 

What are some of your resolutions for this coming year?